On July 4, 2024, the University of Colombo formally announced the completion and handover of the ROLC-developed Commercial Arbitration Course as part of the university’s LLM program in Commercial Law. ROLC’s Deputy Executive Director Steven Austermiller developed this groundbreaking curriculum, in connection with local bar and academic experts and helped train the professors on how to deliver it. 

The module was designed to give a comprehensive survey on commercial arbitration utilizing modern, adult-learning methodologies. These learning methods include research, debate, discussion, group work, and interactive role playing. They are designed to give the student ownership over his/her own learning through fun and interesting activities. The course has two final capstone activities, 1) a presentation of possible changes in the law, and 2) a mock arbitration. The objective is for students to learn about commercial arbitration in a practical and professional manner, which will allow them to begin engaging in arbitration at their law practice, wherever that may be. 

The module was developed in a collaborative manner, utilizing local experts from the bar and local experts from the University of Colombo. These local experts provided invaluable information on how Sri Lankan practitioners use the current laws and how Sri Lankan courts interpret these laws. The local experts also provided insight into what would be most beneficial for LLM students and how to best engage them.

The course is an important part of the overall legal/judicial reform process in Sri Lanka. Commercial arbitration holds the promise of reducing court backlogs, incentivizing foreign investment, and further professionalizing the bar and judiciary. While Sri Lankan commercial arbitration is currently in a nascent phase, educating young lawyers about its benefits and familiarizing them with its processes will help increase interest and utilization for the future. This is the first of several important steps that will help Sri Lanka use arbitration to improve justice and commerce for its citizens.