History of the District Court Kandy

The History of the District Court of Kandy

Judicial administration during the Kandyan Kingdom

Before British rule, Kandy had its own system of administering justice based largely on Kandyan customary law. The King was regarded as the ultimate source of judicial authority. Local disputes were often dealt with by village-level bodies known as Gamsabha, while more serious matters could be brought before higher authorities and ultimately the King.

The Magul Maduwa (Royal Audience Hall) at Kandy (Dalada Maligawa Premises) was particularly important. It was used for administrative and judicial purposes and was regarded as the King's supreme court for important matters.

court room

British Annexation (1815)

Following the British annexation of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815, the traditional system of administration of justice gradually became integrated into the colonial judicial system. The British judicial structure developed through measures such as the Charter of Justice of 1833, which contributed to the development of a more uniform court system in Ceylon.

Justice A.C. Lawrie (1873-1892)

Kandy subsequently became an important judicial center in the Central Province. Historical records of the Kandy District Court are particularly valuable for understanding the legal and social history of the region. A.C. Lawrie, who served as Kandy District Judge from 1873 to 1892, used historical and court materials in compiling A Gazetteer of the Central Province of Ceylon.

Archibald Campbell Lawrie, widely known as A.C. Lawrie, is renowned for compiling one of the most significant primary historical sources on the history of the Kandy. Lawrie was born on September 8, 1837 CE, in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Dr. J. A. Lawrie, was both a practicing physician and a professor at the University of Glasgow. Archibald Campbell Lawrie pursued his legal studies at the University of Glasgow, where he also cultivated a deep interest in law and Scottish history.

In 1873 CE, he was appointed District Judge of Kandy by the British colonial administration. Although he briefly held various judicial and legal positions – including acting roles within the Supreme Court – he served as the District Judge of Kandy for nearly 25 years until his transfer to Colombo in 1896 CE as Acting Deputy Chief Justice. On several Occasions, Lawrie performed duties as Acting and retired from judicial service in 1901 CE. Following his retirement, Lawrie was appointed as a member of the Royal Colonial Institute and was knighted by King Edward VII in recognition of his service. Sir A.C. Lawrie passed away on May 11, 1914 CE, at Dumbarton, Scotland, at the age of seventy-seven.

Justice A.C. Lawrie Justice A.C. Lawrie

Post Independence (1948)

After independence in 1948, the judicial system continued to develop under Sri Lankan legislation. A major modern change came with the Judicature Act No. 2 of 1978, which established the present structure of courts in Sri Lanka.

Relocation (2005)

In 2005 District Court and the other Courts which were situated near Dalada Maligawa were shifted to the new court complex newly established at William Gopallawa Mawatha.

Modern Kandy District Court

Today, Kandy is an important judicial center. Under the current territorial arrangement, the Kandy Judicial Zone includes the judicial districts of Kandy, Teldeniya, Gampola and Nawalapitiya. The Kandy Judicial District itself includes the judicial divisions of Kandy and Galagedera.

Preservation of Records (2024)

An especially interesting development is the preservation of the old records of the Kandy District Court. In 2024, the National Archives began work to acquire old Kandy District Court records. These historical case records provide valuable evidence for studying the development of law, administration and society in the Central Province and also records reflect the life style and the administrative system of the colonial time of Kandyan territory of Era under the British ruling.