History of the High Court of Civil Appeal Kegalle

Strengthening the efficiency of the civil justice system in Sri Lanka.

History of the Establishment of the High Court of Civil Appeal of Kegalle

The High Courts were originally established as Zonal Courts with exclusive criminal jurisdiction under the provisions of Administration of Justice Law, No. 44 of 1973. By the 11th amendment to the 1978 constitution of Sri Lanka Article 111(1) was amended to describe the High Court as the High Court of Sri Lanka and conferred broader powers to the High Courts. Subsequently, by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the High Courts for each province were established under Article 154(P). These Provincial High Courts were originally granted Criminal Jurisdiction, Appellate Jurisdiction and Writ Jurisdiction. Those powers were further expanded by the High Court of the Provinces (Special Provisions) Act No.19 of 1990.

The High Court of the Provinces had exercised Appellate and Revisionary Jurisdiction in respect of the orders and judgments of the Magistrate Courts, Primary Courts, Labour Tribunals and the Tribunals established under Agrarian Services Act situated within its jurisdiction.

Civil Appellate High Court Kegalle Building

Birth of the High Court of Civil Appeal

The jurisdiction of the High Court of the provinces was extended to exercise Appellate and Revisionary jurisdiction in respect of judgments, decrees and orders delivered and made by any District Court or Family Court within such province and the Appellate jurisdiction for the correction of all errors in fact or in law, which shall be committed by any such District Court or Family Court as the case may, by section 5(A)(1) of the High Court of the Provinces (Special Provisions) Amendment Act No.54 of 2006. By this amendment the High Courts of Civil Appeal for the provinces were established in year 2006.

Later on by High Court of Provinces (Special Provisions) Amendment Act No.35 of 2022, the jurisdiction of a High Court of Civil Appeal was extended with regarding the judgments and decrees or orders delivered and made by the Small Claims Courts also.

Establishment in Kegalle

The High Court of Civil Appeal, Kegalle was established in February, 2007 in a building within the court complex and later on, it was shifted to the newly built Court building on 25.07.2007.

Current Jurisdiction

Currently, the Final Appeals, Revision applications and Leave to Appeal applications from the District Courts and Small Claims Courts of Kegalle, Mawanella, Warakapola and Ruwanwella are heard at the High Court of Civil Appeal, Kegalle.