Continuing an initiative to strengthen judicial leadership and well-being, the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute (SLJI), in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka, conducted its fifth capacity-building workshop, “The Human Side of Justice,” on 1 August 2026 in Kandy.

This was the fifth programme in the series, following workshops held earlier this year in Colombo, Galle and Kurunegala.

The full-day programme brought together 26 Magistrates and District Judges from across the Central Province for transformative learning, reflection and professional renewal.

The initiative addressed a critical modern reality: judicial officers carry responsibilities extending beyond legal interpretation. Judges are required to lead people, manage high-pressure courtroom environments and maintain personal resilience amid heavy caseloads, public scrutiny and complex human situations.

The opening session was conducted by CIPM Fellow and HR specialist C. Hewapattini, who explored the relationship between the “Thinking Judge” and the “Human Judge”, highlighting the leadership space where law meets humanity.

Hewapattini noted that while AI can support administration, summarise case records and accelerate legal research, human qualities remain indispensable to justice.

“An algorithm can read a file; a judge reads a life,” Hewapattini observed, emphasising that judicial virtues such as empathy, ethics and equity cannot be replicated by technology.

Through discussions, simulations and neuro-leadership insights, participants explored SMART goal-setting, emotional intelligence and Appreciative Inquiry, with particular attention to emotional self-regulation and maintaining courtroom calm. 

The afternoon session, “Graceful Living: A Professional Development Programme for Judicial Officers,” was facilitated by Sunil Sarath Kumara, an HR leader, life coach and mindfulness practitioner. He shared practical approaches to managing decision fatigue, emotional exhaustion and “microstress”, including the value of a six-second pause before responding to provocation.

Highlighting the partnership’s national significance, Dr Neil Bogahalande, PhD, President of CIPM Sri Lanka, stated: “The continued confidence placed in CIPM by the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute is a testament to the credibility, professionalism and thought leadership of our Institute. It is indeed a matter of pride that CIPM continues to widen its national impact, extending the value of the HR profession well beyond the corporate sector.”

Through this continuing partnership, SLJI and CIPM Sri Lanka are advancing judicial excellence while ensuring that justice remains anchored in humanity and compassion.