Justice wears human face: CIPM Sri Lanka and SLJI empower judges beyond bench

IN an inspiring and forward-thinking initiative, the Sri Lanka Judges’ Institute (SLJI), in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Sri Lanka, conducted a pioneering capacity-building workshop on Human Resource Management and the Human Side of Justice for newly appointed Magistrates and District Judges. Held on Wednesday, 9 July, at the SLJI Auditorium in Colombo, the session brought together over 50 judicial officers for a day of deep reflection, learning, and renewal of purpose.

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This landmark initiative recognised the evolving role of judges—not merely as arbiters of law but as leaders, communicators, and human beings entrusted with shaping lives through empathy and fairness. In a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence and automation, the program boldly underscored a vital truth: the bench may be assisted by algorithms, but it can never be replaced by them.

Delivering the session on “Goal Setting and the Human Side of Justice”, CIPM HR Specialist and Fellow C. Hewapattini explored the intersection of purpose-driven leadership and judicial responsibility. Through compelling case studies, emotional narratives, and neuro-leadership insights, he demonstrated how a judge’s effectiveness depends as much on emotional intelligence and ethical clarity as it does on legal acumen.