Court Structure in Srilanka
THE COURT STRUTURE OF SRILANKA
INTRODUTION
The court-structure consists of a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeal, High Courts, Municipal Courts, and Primary Courts. Additionally, there are numerous tribunals, etc.
In cases involving criminal law, a Magistrate’s Court or a High Court is the only court with primary jurisdiction; the respective legal domains of each are provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The preponderant majority of criminal law cases are initiated at a Magistrate’s Court. These cases may be initiated by any police officer, or public servant, with a written or oral complaint to the magistrate (see section on Magistrate’s Court). Murder trials and various offenses against the State originate in a High Court (see section on High Courts).
Original jurisdiction over most civil matters lies with the relevant District Court (see section on District Courts).
Until 1972, The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain was the final court of appeal for Sri Lanka. The right of appeal to the Privy Council “was abolished…as there were concerns that any attempt to discard the existing Constitution in 1972 might be adjudged unconstitutional.”
There are also other courts such as the Kathi Courts that handle matrimonial disputes among Muslims, and numerous tribunals.
THE SUPREME COURT
[pic]
Established : 1801
Country : Sri Lanka
Location : Hultsdorf, Colombo
Authorized by : Sri Lankan Constitution
Judge term length : Until the age of 65 years
Number of positions : 9, by statute
Website : Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Motto :"Inspire public trust and confidence
Chief Justice of Sri Lanka : Mohan Peiris
The Supreme Court is the highest and final court of record, and exercises final civil and criminal
INTRODUTION
The court-structure consists of a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeal, High Courts, Municipal Courts, and Primary Courts. Additionally, there are numerous tribunals, etc.
In cases involving criminal law, a Magistrate’s Court or a High Court is the only court with primary jurisdiction; the respective legal domains of each are provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The preponderant majority of criminal law cases are initiated at a Magistrate’s Court. These cases may be initiated by any police officer, or public servant, with a written or oral complaint to the magistrate (see section on Magistrate’s Court). Murder trials and various offenses against the State originate in a High Court (see section on High Courts).
Original jurisdiction over most civil matters lies with the relevant District Court (see section on District Courts).
Until 1972, The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain was the final court of appeal for Sri Lanka. The right of appeal to the Privy Council “was abolished…as there were concerns that any attempt to discard the existing Constitution in 1972 might be adjudged unconstitutional.”
There are also other courts such as the Kathi Courts that handle matrimonial disputes among Muslims, and numerous tribunals.
THE SUPREME COURT
[pic]
Established : 1801
Country : Sri Lanka
Location : Hultsdorf, Colombo
Authorized by : Sri Lankan Constitution
Judge term length : Until the age of 65 years
Number of positions : 9, by statute
Website : Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Motto :"Inspire public trust and confidence
Chief Justice of Sri Lanka : Mohan Peiris
The Supreme Court is the highest and final court of record, and exercises final civil and criminal