The magistrate's courts in Sri Lanka is a court of first instance headed by a magistrate who is vested with original criminal jurisdiction.Judicial Hierarchy

Jurisdiction Originally known as police magistrate's courts, the current magistrate's courts were established under the Judicature Act, No. 2 of 1978 in 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.

The magistrate's courts have jurisdiction over: 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.Judicial Service Commission Secretariat

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 polgahawela 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

See also Unofficial magistrate Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Constitution of Sri Lanka

References