The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka is the highest judicial instance. The court consists of the Chief Justice and not less than six and not more than ten other Judges, appointed by the Constitutional Council on ecommendation of the President, for a lifetime period (65). The Court is the final appellate Court and has jurisidiction in constitutional matters.

Supreme Court of Sri Lanka

Appellate Courts

The Appeal Court hears appeals from the High Court and any court of first instance. According to art 137 of the constitution, the court consists of the President of the Court and not less than six and not more than eleven other Judges.

Court of Appeal

High Courts

The High court has original jurisdiction for all prosecutions on indictment, admirality jurisdiction and commercial jurisdiction. Next to it's original jurisidiction the High Court has appellate and revisionary jurisdiction in respect of convictions, sentences, orders entered or imposed by Magistrate’s courts and Primary courts within the Province and hears appeals from Labour Tribunals, Agrarian tribunals and Small Claims Courts. The High Court consists of not less than ten and not more than Forty Judges [Article 111 of the Constitution] Judges of the High Court are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission made after consultation with the Attorney General. Judges of the High Court are removable by the President and are subject to disciplinary control by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. The Age of retirement for High Court Judges is 61.

High Court
High Court Ambilipitiya
High Court Ampara
High Court Anuradhapura
High Court Avissawella
High Court Badulla
High Court Balapitiya
High Court Batticaloa
High Court Chilaw
High Court Colombo
High Court Galle
High Court Gampaha
High Court Hambantota
High Court Jaffna
High Court Kalmunai
High Court Kandy
High Court Kegalle
High Court Kurunegala
High Court Matara
High Court Negombo
High Court Panadura
High Court Polonnaruwa
High Court Puttalam
High Court Ratnapura
High Court Trincomalee
High Court Vavuniya
High Court Welikada

Regional courts

District Courts are established under the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978 for each judicial district in Sri Lanka. The territorial limits of each judicial district is as determined by the Minister in charge of the subject of Justice in consultation with the Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal. There are 54 judicial districts in Sri Lanka. Appeals from judgments, decrees and orders of the District Court lie to the Court of Appeal.

District Courts
District Court Akkaraipattu
District Court Ampara
District Court Anuradhapura
District Court Attanagalla
District Court Avissawella
District Court Badulla
District Court Balapitiya
District Court Bandarawela
District Court Batticaloa
District Court Chavakachcheri
District Court Chilaw
District Court Colombo
District Court Elpitiya
District Court Embilipitiya
District Court Galle
District Court Gampaha
District Court Gampola
District Court Hambantota
District Court Hatton
District Court Homagama
District Court Horana
District Court Jaffna
District Court Kalmunai
District Court Kalutara
District Court Kandy
District Court Kayts
District Court Kegalle
District Court Kuliyapitiya
District Court Kurunegala
District Court Maho
District Court Mallakam
District Court Mannar
District Court Marawila
District Court Matale
District Court Matara
District Court Matugama
District Court Moneragala
District Court Moratuwa
District Court Mount Lavinia
District Court Mullativu
District Court Negombo
District Court Nuwara Eliya
District Court Panadura
District Court Point Pedro
District Court Polonnaruwa
District Court Pugoda
District Court Puttalam
District Court Ratnapura
District Court Tangalle
District Court Tissamaharamaya
District Court Trincomalee
District Court Vauniya
District Court Walasmulla
District Court Warakapola
District Court Welimada

First Instance Courts

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 upto 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. The Primary Courts 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 Magistrate's Courts exercise the jurisdiction of the Primary Courts. The Primary Courts have crimininal and civil Jurisdiction. (claims not exceeding 1,500) Appeals from convictions, sentences or orders of Magistrate’s Courts within a Province lie to the High Court of the Province.

Magistrate's Courts
Magistrate's Court Akkraipattu
Magistrate's Court Ampara
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 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 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 Walasmulla
Magistrate's Court Warakapola
Magistrate's Court Wariyapola
Magistrate's Court Wattala
Magistrate's Court Welimada
Primary Courts

Labor Courts

Labour Tribunals

Jurisprudence (Case Law)

Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka Decisions - CommonLII
Judgments Supreme Court 2009-2010
Judgments Supreme Court 2011
Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Decisions - Commonlii

Judiciary (general)

Judicial Service Commission
Judicial Service Commission Secretariat