Abstract:
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a new norm in which technology is at the forefront
of keeping the globe running and rebuilding better after the crisis. Several countries
practiced virtual ADR during the pandemic than in the pre-pandemic situation, and the
virtual shift has gained traction. The research aims to explore the potentiality of the ADR
methods in the virtual platform for the settlement of the dispute and make
recommendations for effective legal implementation of those methods in the
Construction Industry in Sri Lanka. The research aim was achieved through a qualitative
approach; collected data through two stages: a preliminary interview and a semistructured
interview with experts and finally analysed with manual content analysis. Key
research findings are the opportunities and challenges to implement and conduct ADR
in the virtual platform in the Sri Lankan construction industry. In addition, the strategies
were collected to identify the potentiality of virtual ADR. The research concludes that
the blended approach is suitable for Sri Lanka and the entire virtual ADR is not suitable.
The entire virtual ADR shall be potential for Sri Lanka if all the opportunities are utilized
and all the strategies are followed. As the virtual ADR is a game-changer for the SL
construction industry, regulatory bodies and arbitration institutions must take initiatives
to implement and conduct virtual ADR successfully in the future.
