History of the Mount Lavinia Court

With the introduction of Administration of Justice Law Act No. 44 of 1973 Mount Lavinia District Court was established having its civil jurisdiction covering Bambalapitiya, Wellawatta, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia and Moratuwa Police areas.

The criminal jurisdiction of the court was later limited to Mount Lavinia, Wellawatte, Dehiwala, Kohuwala (part of) police areas.

Presently, the civil territorial jurisdiction is concurrent with the Nugegoda District Court and the Civil Appellate High Court which was established within this court premises which also later referred with Appeals & Revision applications from the District Courts of Nugegoda, Moratuwa and Mount Lavinia.

The court house was built on a land called “Galkissawatta” having two road frontages; one facing the trunk road to the south of Sri Lanka and the other facing the legendary Mount Lavinia hotel which earned its name after the British Governor whose residence it was then.

The garden of this august building is adorned with an old Bo- tree which provides shade to hundreds of litigants and visitors to the premises along a Sal tree and a tamarind tree which stand in the front garden.

At present, there are 6 judges functioning in 5 court houses exercising Appellate, Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction.