Magistrate's court (Sri Lanka)

The magistrate's courts in Sri Lanka is a court of first instance headed by a magistrate who is vested with original criminal jurisdiction.^[1]

Jurisdiction

Originally known as police magistrate's courts, current magistrate's courts are established under the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978 to each judicial division in Sri Lanka. The Minister in charge of the subject of Justice in consultation with the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal would define the territorial limits of each judicial division. At present there are 72 judicial divisions in Sri Lanka.^[2]

It has jurisdiction of;

criminal cases filed under the penal code and other laws within its jurisdiction.
First mortem examinations.
Post mortem examinations.
Issue of Warrants of Judicial orders to arrest and produce suspected persons.
Issue of search warrants.
Ordering persons to enter into bonds of good conduct and preventive jurisdiction on public nuisance.

Every magistrate's court is vested with original criminal jurisdiction (other than in respect of offences upon indictment in the High Court), and is ordinarily empowered to impose sentences up to a fine of Rs. 1,500 and/or 2 years rigorous/simple imprisonment unless power is vested in the Magistrate's Court to impose higher penalties by special provision. Appeals from convictions, sentences or orders of Magistrate's Courts within a Province lie to the High Court of the Province. In judicial divisions which does not have primary courts, magistrate's courts exercise the jurisdiction of the Primary Courts.

Appointment and removal of magistrates

All magistrates are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, which has power of dismissal and disciplinary control of the magistrates. Additional magistrates would be appointed to a magistrate's court. Magistrates would be seconded to municipal magistrate courts. The Chief Magistrates Court in Colombo is the senior of the magistrate's courts in the judicial division of Colombo.^[3]

Unofficial magistrates

In remote areas where there are only one magistrate and/or additional magistrate, unofficial magistrates (known as acting magistrates) would be appointed to site on behalf of the magistrate in his/her absence and postpone hearings to a later date.

List of magistrate's courts

Magistrate's Court Akkraipattu
Magistrate's Court Ampara
Magistrate's Court Angunukolapelessa
Magistrate's Court Anuradhapura
Magistrate's Court Attanagalla
Magistrate's Court Avissawella
Magistrate's Court Baddegama
Magistrate's Court Badulla
Magistrate's Court Balangoda
Magistrate's Court Balapitiya
Magistrate's Court Bandarawela
Magistrate's Court Batticaloa
Magistrate's Court Chavakachcheri
Magistrate's Court Chilaw
Magistrate's Court Colombo
Magistrate's Court Dambulla
Magistrate's Court Elpitiya
Magistrate's Court Embilipitiya
Magistrate's Court Fort
Magistrate's Court Galagedara
Magistrate's Court Galgamuwa
Magistrate's Court, Galle
Magistrate's Court Gampaha
Magistrate's Court Gampola
Magistrate's Court Gangodawila
Magistrate's Court Hambantota
Magistrate's Court Hatton
Magistrate's Court Hingurakgoda
Magistrate's Court Homagama
Magistrate's Court Horana
Magistrate's Court Jaffna
Magistrate's Court Kaduwela
Magistrate's Court Kalmunai
Magistrate's Court Kalutara
Magistrate's Court Kandy
Magistrate's Court Kantale
Magistrate's Court Kayts
Magistrate's Court Kegalle
Magistrate's Court Kekiwara
Magistrate's Court Kesbewa
Magistrate's Court Killinochchi
Magistrate's Court Krebithigollawa
Magistrate's Court Kuliyapitiya
Magistrate's Court Kurunegala
Magistrate's Court Maho
Magistrate's Court Maligakanda
Magistrate's Court Mallakam
Magistrate's Court Mannar
Magistrate's Court Marawila
Magistrate's Court Matale
Magistrate's Court Matara
Magistrate's Court Matugama
Magistrate's Court Mawanella
Magistrate's Court Minuwangoda
Magistrate's Court Moneragala
Magistrate's Court Moratuwa
Magistrate's Court Morawaka
Magistrate's Court Mount Lavinia
Magistrate's Court Mullativu
Magistrate's Court Mutur
Magistrate's Court Nawalapitiya
Magistrate's Court Negombo
Magistrate's Court Nuwara Eliya
Magistrate's Court Panadura
Magistrate's Court Point Pedro
Magistrate's Court Polonnaruwa
Magistrate's Court Pugoda
Magistrate's Court Puttalam
Magistrate's Court Ratnapura
Magistrate's Court Ruwanwella
Magistrate's Court Tangalle
Magistrate's Court Teldeniya
Magistrate's Court Thambuththegama
Magistrate's Court Tissamaharamaya
Magistrate's Court Trincomalee
Magistrate's Court Vauniya
Magistrate's Court Wallawaya
Magistrate's Court Walasmulla
Magistrate's Court Warakapola
Magistrate's Court Wariyapola
Magistrate's Court Wattala
Magistrate's Court Welimada

References

[1] Judicial Hierarchy

[2] "COURTS OF LAW IN SRI LANKA".

[3] Judicial Service Commission Secretariat

[1]

[2]

[3]