History of the District Court Nawalapitiya

Historical Background of the Nawalapitiya District/Magistrate's Court

The Nawalapitiya District/Magistrate's Court was initially established in the year 1974 as a Magistrate's Court, and it commenced its operations at premises situated in Ginigaththena Road, Nawalapitiya.

From its inception on Ginigaththena Road to its modern expansion into a dedicated court complex, the court has continually developed to provide accessible civil and criminal justice to the people of the Nawalapitiya Judicial Division.

Nawalapitiya Court Complex

Nawalapitiya Court

ESTABLISHED 1974

1. Initial Establishment as a Magistrate's Court (1974)

The Nawalapitiya District/Magistrate's Court was initially established in the year 1974 as a Magistrate's Court, and it commenced its operations at premises situated in Ginigaththena Road, Nawalapitiya.

2. Re-designation & Civil Jurisdiction Expansion (2005)

In the year 2005, the Court was re-designated as the District/Magistrate's Court of Nawalapitiya. Prior to this re-designation, all civil matters arising within the territorial jurisdiction of the Nawalapitiya Judicial Division were adjudicated before the District Court of Gampola. However, subsequent to the establishment of the District Court jurisdiction in Nawalapitiya in 2005, the hearing and determination of such civil matters were vested with the Nawalapitiya District Court, thereby enabling litigants within the judicial division to have their civil disputes resolved locally.

3. Relocation to Theatre Road Court Complex (2009)

With effect from the year 2009, the Nawalapitiya District/Magistrate's Court was relocated to the newly constructed court complex situated at Theatre Road, Nawalapitiya, where it continues to function to date.

4. Supervision of Helboda Circuit Magistrate's Court (2011)

Furthermore, with effect from the year 2011, the Helboda Circuit Magistrate's Court was brought within the administrative and judicial purview of the Nawalapitiya Judicial Division. Consequently, the proceedings of the Helboda Circuit Magistrate's Court came to be conducted under the authority and supervision of the Nawalapitiya Magistrate's Court.