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.
Sittings
of the court are held in a convenient place within the territorial
jurisdiction of the district, as appointed by the Minister by Regulation
made under section 5(3) of the Judicature Act, No.2 of 1978.
Every
District Court is a court of record and is vested with unlimited
original jurisdiction in all civil, revenue, trust, insolvency and
testamentary matters other than such matters as are assigned to any
other court by Law.
Jurisdiction
in respect of commercial disputes which are greater than Rs. 3 million
in value and arising in the Western Province, is exercised by the High Court sitting
in Colombo – vide High Court of the Provinces (Special Provisions) Act,
No. 10 of 1996.
All
Judges of the District Courts are appointed by the
Judicial
Service Commission which is also vested with the power of dismissal
and disciplinary control of the Judges.
The
Age of retirement of District Judges is as provided for in the Public
and Judicial Officers (Retirement) Ordinance.
Appeals
from judgments, decrees and orders of the District Court lie to the
Court of Appeal.
