The magistrate's courts in Sri Lanka is a

lower court A lower court or inferior court is a court from which an appeal may be taken, usually referring to courts other than supreme court. In relation to an appeal from one court to another, the lower court is the court whose decision is being reviewed ...

headed by a

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judic ...

who is vested with original criminal jurisdiction.

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. It has jurisdiction of; * criminal cases filed under the penal code and other laws within its jurisdiction. * First mortem examinations. *

Post mortem An autopsy (post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough Physical examination, examination of a Cadaver, corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner o ...

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 court The primary courts in Sri Lanka is a lower court and are the courts of first instance. There are seven primary courts, located in Anamaduwa, Angunukolapelessa, Kandy, Mallakam, Pilessa, Wellawaya and Wennappuwa. In the other divisions, the magistr ...

s, 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 Colombo ( ; si, කොළඹ, translit=Koḷam̆ba, ; ta, கொழும்பு, translit=Koḻumpu, ) is the executive and judicial capital and largest city of Sri Lanka by population. According to the Brookings Institution, Colombo m ...

is the senior of the magistrate's courts in the judicial division of Colombo.Judicial Service Commission Secretariat
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Unofficial magistrates

In remote areas where there are only one magistrate and/or additional magistrate,

unofficial magistrate In Sri Lanka, a Justice of the Peace and Unofficial magistrate (also known as Acting magistrate) is a judicial appointment made by the Minister of Justice to a particular jurisdiction under the ''Judicature Act No 02 of 1978''. An Unofficial magistr ...

s (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

{{Law of Sri Lanka, state=collapsed Law of Sri Lanka Courts of Sri Lanka *

Jurisdiction

Appointment and removal of magistrates

Unofficial magistrates

List of magistrate's courts

See also

References