History of the District Court Kegalle

The History of the District Court of Kegalle

Introduction of Roman-Dutch Law (1656 AD)

The Dutch introduced Roman-Dutch Law to the colonies under their control. Accordingly, since 1656 AD, it operated as the common law across the coastal areas of Sri Lanka. Its authority as the common law remained firmly accepted and retained even during the British colonial era.

To maintain order and administer civil justice in the maritime regions, the Dutch established three key judicial bodies: the Raad van Justitie (High Court), the Civieleraad (Civil Court), and the Landraad (Land Court).

Kegalle Court Room

Raad van Justitie & Governance

The High Courts (Raad van Justitie) operated exclusively in three primary districts: Colombo, Jaffna, and Kegalle. A Board consisting of seven officers who served the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Sri Lanka was appointed to each of these districts by the Governor. The Commander in Kegalle stood as an official vested with broad civil and judicial powers.

Early Judicial Premises (18th Century)

In the eighteenth century, a very small building was initially utilized for the Court of Justice. Historical accounts indicate that a section of the warehouse building located nearby—presently housing the National Maritime Museum—had also been utilized for judicial purposes during this earlier era.

Construction of the Modern Court (1927)

The present building housing both the District Court and the High Court of Kegalle was constructed in 1927 at an estimated cost of about one hundred thousand rupees, serving as an enduring landmark of judicial administration in the Southern Province.