Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre

What Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre does

Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre (SLNAC), headquartered in Colombo 07 at No. 120/7 Vidya Mawatha, is a private not-for-profit Guarantee Company incorporated under the Companies Act of Sri Lanka and operating continuously since 1985. It is Sri Lanka's oldest and most established arbitration institution, administering UNCITRAL-aligned commercial and international arbitration, expedited arbitration, adjudication, and mediation/conciliation services. Awards are rendered under the Arbitration Act No. 11 of 1995 and are enforceable under the New York Convention. SLNAC serves a broad client base spanning SMEs, corporates, multinationals, and legal professionals across industries including construction and infrastructure, banking and financial services, maritime and shipping, intellectual property, and employment.

The service portfolio comprises five core products — Commercial Arbitration, International Arbitration, Expedited Arbitration, Adjudication Services, and Mediation/Conciliation — plus add-on modules for arbitration administration, hearing facilities (with hybrid Zoom/MS Teams capability), AI-powered transcription, stenographers and interpreters, and arbitrator appointment services. Revenue is generated through per-case administrative fees, arbitrator fees, hearing facility charges, and ancillary services on a pay-as-you-go basis; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is primarily direct via the Colombo office, supported by Board-level representation from Sri Lanka Bankers Association, Bar Association of Sri Lanka, NCCSL, CNCI, NCASL, WCIC, and CIDA, plus a growing network of cross-border MoUs with HKIAC (Hong Kong), BIAC (Bangladesh), and Indonesia Dispute Board.

The institution is governed by a 13-member Board of Governors (chaired by Mr. Hiran de Alwis since August 2023) and managed by a secretariat of approximately 18-20 staff. SLNAC's strategic posture in 2024-2025 has been defined by Sri Lanka's election to UNCITRAL, a series of regional partnership MoUs across South and Southeast Asia, active participation in international forums (CIETAC SCO Forum, Istanbul Arbitration Days, Global South ADR), and a CEO transition with Mrs. Karnika Jayatilake appointed effective January 2026.

Name

Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre

Legal name

Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre

Website

https://slnarbcentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sri Lanka's oldest arbitration institution, founded in 1985, provides UNCITRAL-aligned commercial and international arbitration, adjudication, and mediation services to corporates, SMEs, and legal professionals. Headquartered in Colombo, it serves dispute resolution needs across South Asia through strategic regional partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

NAICS

Other Legal Services (54119), All Other Legal Services (541199)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Commercial arbitration services
• International arbitration
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Construction adjudication
• UNCITRAL arbitration rules

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Arbitration Administration Services: Fees charged for administering arbitration proceedings, including case management, hearing facilities, certification of awards, and documentation support. Costs include centre charges for hearings, arbitrator fees, and administrative charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre (SLNAC) administers commercial and international arbitration proceedings under UNCITRAL-aligned rules, providing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services for businesses, corporates, and legal professionals. Its core offerings include Commercial Arbitration, International Arbitration, Expedited Arbitration, Adjudication (for construction and technical disputes), and Mediation/Conciliation, complemented by Arbitration Administration, Hearing Facilities with hybrid capabilities, AI-powered transcription, and Arbitrator Appointment Services.

Product overview

SLNAC offers a comprehensive suite of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services centered around arbitration. The core portfolio includes Commercial Arbitration and International Arbitration for business and cross-border disputes, complemented by Expedited Arbitration for time-sensitive matters. Additional ADR services encompass Adjudication for construction and technical sectors, and Mediation/Conciliation. Supporting infrastructure includes Arbitration Administration, Hearing Facilities with hybrid meeting capabilities, AI-Powered Transcription Services, Stenographers and Interpreters, and Arbitrator Appointment Services. All arbitration services are aligned with UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Arbitration Private, legally binding dispute resolution process for business disputes, offering confidentiality, speed, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional litigation. Designed for commercial parties seeking enforceable outcomes outside the court system.
• International Arbitration Cross-border dispute resolution aligned with UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules for matters involving international trade, investment, and commercial transactions. Delivers enforceable awards under the New York Convention.
• SLNAC Expedited Arbitration Rules Accelerated arbitration process designed for time-sensitive disputes with streamlined case management and shorter timelines, aligned with UNCITRAL Expedited Rules. Parties can agree to administer disputes under the SLNAC Expedited Arbitration Rules.
• Adjudication Services Industry-specific dispute resolution mechanism particularly for construction and technical sectors, leveraging arbitrators and specialists with engineering and infrastructure expertise.
• Mediation and Conciliation Alternative dispute resolution services ensuring impartiality and efficiency for parties seeking out-of-court settlement solutions through facilitated mediation and conciliation processes.
• Arbitration Administration End-to-end administrative support for arbitration proceedings including application of UNCITRAL Rules, SLNAC Expedited Arbitration Rules, and ad hoc proceedings; covers case management, hearing coordination, certification of awards, and documentation support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sri Lanka's dispute settlement rate of approximately 70%

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Istanbul Arbitration DaysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025SLNAC is a supporting organization for Istanbul Arbitration Days 2025 (September 16-19 at Çırağan Palace Kempinski). Participation reinforces international engagement in arbitration dialogue and networking with global arbitration community.
• Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025SLNAC Chairman met with DCCI President to explore trade collaboration and regional dispute resolution partnerships. Discussions focused on identifying mutually beneficial objectives for fostering commercial cooperation and strengthening dispute resolution mechanisms for cross-border business activity.
• Indonesia Dispute Board (Dewan Sengketa Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025MoU signed to foster cooperation in alternative dispute resolution. Aims to enhance collaboration, exchange best practices, provide training and educational opportunities for ADR professionals, and facilitate mutual recognition of dispute resolution systems.
• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SLNAC represented at CIETAC SCO Arbitration Forum 2025 in recognition of its leadership since 1985. Board member Prof. Chitra Weddikkara featured as speaker. Forum convened leading arbitration institutions from 32 Belt and Road Initiative countries. Strengthens Sri Lanka's positioning as neutral venue for international arbitration.
• Kovise Foundation Conflict Resolution International (KFCRI)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Justice Priyantha Jayawardena represented SLNAC as distinguished speaker at GLOBAL SOUTH ADR THIRUNAAL/Day 2025, a 24-hour virtual event. Contributed insights on evolving ADR landscape in the Global South.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 October 2024MoU signed on October 21, 2024 during Hong Kong International Arbitration Week. Aims to strengthen collaboration between institutions, facilitating knowledge sharing, resource exchange, and smoother cross-border dispute resolution processes. Representatives focused on international opportunities, cross-border trade, and long-standing trade relations between Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.
• Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024MoU signed on April 22, 2024 at BIAC office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Aims to enhance trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by facilitating exchange of information and organizing joint awareness programs. Includes utilization of each other's infrastructure facilities for arbitrations, mediations, and conciliation proceedings.
• Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SLNAC acted as principal partner and sponsor for BASL National Law Conference 2021 (held February 12-13). Represents ongoing collaboration with Sri Lanka's foremost professional legal body.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC): CIETAC is China's leading international arbitration institution and a Belt and Road arbitration hub. SLNAC's participation in CIETAC's SCO Arbitration Forum 2025 positions both institutions as peers in the Asia cross-border dispute resolution ecosystem.
• Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC): AIAC (formerly KLRCA) is Malaysia's regional arbitration institution offering UNCITRAL-aligned arbitration and mediation services. Like SLNAC, it serves as a regional Asian ADR hub pursuing international case flow.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): HKIAC is a leading Asian arbitration institution and a direct MoU partner of SLNAC (signed Oct 2024). Both administer international commercial arbitrations aligned with UNCITRAL rules and serve cross-border parties in Asia.
• Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC): BIAC is Bangladesh's principal arbitration institution and an SLNAC MoU partner (signed Apr 2024). Both are regional South Asian arbitration centres pursuing UNCITRAL-aligned procedures and cross-border case flow.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): SIAC is Asia's leading international arbitration institution administering commercial arbitrations across borders. Like SLNAC, it provides institutional arbitration administration aligned with international standards and competes for the same cross-border commercial dispute flow that SLNAC targets.

Broad incumbents

• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA): LCIA is one of the world's oldest and most established international arbitration institutions based in London. It is a broad incumbent with which SLNAC's UNCITRAL-aligned model is comparable, though LCIA serves a much larger global caseload.
• ICC International Court of Arbitration: The ICC International Court of Arbitration is the world's largest and most globally recognized arbitration institution. While operating at vastly greater scale, it is a comparable institutional arbitration provider with similar UNCITRAL-aligned procedures.
• Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC): VIAC is a well-established European international arbitration institution with growing Asia engagement. It is comparable to SLNAC as a mid-sized institutional arbitration provider competing for international commercial disputes.

Regional players

• Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration (MCIA): MCIA is India's emerging international arbitration centre. While not a primary SLNAC competitor, it serves an overlapping South Asian market for cross-border commercial disputes and represents a comparable regional institutional model.
• Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC): DIAC is the Middle East's principal arbitration institution. It operates in a different geography but competes for the same cross-border Belt and Road and trade-related international case flow that SLNAC is targeting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sri-lanka-national-arbitration-centre
• Facebookfacebook.com/SriLankaNationalArbitrationCentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka National Arbitration Centre