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The Law Commission of Sri Lanka was established under the Law Commission Act No. 03 of 1969, and it is the main government institution which recommends legal reforms. The Department of Law Commission is constituted to extend administrative and research support.
To promote reform of the Law for good governance.
To discharge duties and functions imposed under the Law Commission Act for the purpose of promoting the reform of the law.
Role of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka
The main objective of the Law Commission is to promote the reforms of the law. Following functions are performed by the Law Commission for the purposes of such promotion.
- The codification of law.
- The elimination of anomalies.
- To take and keep under review the law, both substantive and procedural with a view to its systematic development and reform.
- The repeal of obsolete and unnecessary enactments.
- The simplification and modernization of the law.
- To receive and consider any proposals for the reform of the law.
- To prepare and submit to the Minister, from time to time, programmes for the examination of different branches of the law with a view to reform,
- To obtain such information as to the legal systems of other countries.
- To keep under constant review the exercise by bodies, other than parliament, of the power to legislate by subsidiary legislation with a view to ensuring that they conform to well established principles and to the rule of law.
- To formulate programmes for rationalizing and simplifying legal procedures including procedures of an administrative character connected with litigation.
- To formulate programmes for the codification of the law in Sinhala, Tamil and English.
Secretary
Department of Law Commission of Sri Lanka
4th Floor,
Ministry of Justice New Building,
No: 80, Adhikarana Mawatha,
Colombo 12.
+94 112 333 884
+94 112 333 884
Visit official web site of the Law Commission of Sri Lanka
The Supreme Court is the highest Court of the judicial system in Sri Lanka. The Supreme Court, which consists of 11 Judges including the Hon. Chief Justice appointed by His Excellency the President, hears all applications received by it.
The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka recognizes jurisdiction of the Supreme Court as follows: -
- Jurisdiction in respect of Constitutional matters,
- Jurisdiction in respect of Fundamental Rights,
- Final Appellate Jurisdiction,
- Consultative Jurisdiction,
- Jurisdiction in Elections Petitions (Presidential election),
- Jurisdiction in respect of any breach of Privileges of the Parliament, and
- Jurisdiction in respect of such other matters which Parliament may by Law vest or ordain.
The Registry of the Supreme Court assists the Supreme Court to carry out its functions for which the Ministry of Justice by the Head 234 grants provisions. The functions of the Registry of the Supreme Court includes:-
- Maintenance of the Record of the Supreme Court.
- Arrangements for sittings and schedule of applications.
- Record of Court Orders and Judgments.
- Enrolment of Attorneys-at-Law at the Supreme Court.
- Preparation of briefs received from the Court of Appeal and the assessment of legal costs.
Registrar
+94 112 435 446
Visit official web site of the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court
To form a fair and law abiding society.
Providing Analytical Advisory and Consultancy Service in the fields of Forensic and Food Sciences to Law Courts, Law Enforcement Agencies and other Institutions.
Role of the Department of Government Analyst
The Government Analyst’s Department, being the only forensic laboratory in Sri Lanka, consists of two major Divisions as Food Science and Forensic Science. Food Science Division includes four laboratories namely Food, Liquor, Milk and Water. Forensic Science Division has seven major disciplines as Forensic Ballistics Section, Forensic Serology Section, Forensic Toxicology Section, Explosives a Fire Investigation Section, Narcotic Drugs Section, Forensic Questioned Document Section, and Forensic Miscellaneous Section.
This Department proves to be a service providing institution in that it provides advisory, consultancy and scientific service. The Government Analyst’s Department issues analytical reports upon scientific and analytical testing on productions referred to it by the law Courts of the country, Department of Police, Department of Customs, Department of Excise, Ports, Local Government Institutions, Ministry of Health and as well as other Government Departments and Statutory Bodies. Further, it carries out analytical testing to ensure quality control with the samples being referred to the Department by the various government departments and state sponsored bodies. Additionally, the samples received from the Department of Customs are also tested and analyzed for quality control and tariff categorization purposes. The Department also prepares analytical reports after examination of the Questioned documents forwarded by the law courts throughout the country.
All productions submitted for testing will be referred to relevant tests according to various ordinances such as the Food and Drugs Act, National Environment Act, Excise Ordinances, National Authority of Tobacco and Alcohol Act, Cosmetic; Devices Drug Act, Control of Pesticides Act, Fire Arms Ordinance, Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, The Explosives Act, Offensive weapons Act, Motor Traffic Act, Criminal Procedure Code, Civil Proceeding Code, Evidence Ordinance.
This Department also functions as the scientific consultant to other government departments and Government sponsored institutions. Specially, the contribution given by these experts to Sri Lanka Standard Institute in making standards provides an important service. These Experts assist the Technical Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Defense for purchasing Weapons and Equipment.
In May 2013, this Department was shifted to a new building equipped with state of the art technology and all modern facilities at Pelawatte, Battaramulla. A DNA Laboratory which was an essential need has now been established at these premises with all necessary equipment and the analysis of Court productions has commenced. The Department has also established a Provincial Laboratory at Kurunegala.
No 31, Isuru Mawatha,
Pelawatta,
Battaramulla.
+94 112 176 800 / +94 112 786 395
+94 112 786 394
Visit official web site of the Department of Government Analyst
To provide a relief arrangement for the aggrieved public for the repayment of loans involving immovable property.
Provision of legal protection and relief for the debtors to enable them to get back their immovable property such as agricultural land, housing property placed as security for a loan obtained on a Mortgage, Deed of Conditional Transfer, or Deed of transfer executed solely in respect of a loan transaction, by making payment in installment with a low rate of interest.
Objective
To assist parties to arrive at a settlement on the repayment of loans on Mortgage Bonds, Deeds of Conditional Transfer and Deeds of transfer executed solely for a loan transaction in respect of immovable property.
This Department was established under the Debt Conciliation Ordinance No. 39 of 1941 with the objective of introducing of relief to help the public to get over their indebtedness caused by loans obtained on the security of deeds on conditional transfer of immovable property such as land, paddy fields, estates, houses, unsecured loans obtained on documents such as promissory notes, Cheque, along with such secured loans.
In addition thereto, the Amendment Act No.29 of 1999 enables the Board to intervene in respect of transfer deeds executed purely for a loan transaction, resulting in further expansion of its relief support.
The Debt Conciliation Board consists of five (05) members, appointed by the Minister one of whom shall be nominated by the Minister to be Chairman of the Board. No fee is charged for the applications submitted to the Board and the proceedings before the Board are free of any stamp duty. A very small amount is charged as Gazette and notice fees, and as such an immense service is afforded to the average persons suffering under indebtedness. It is a great relief to the public that it is not compulsory for the applicants to be represented by a lawyer.
The proceedings before this Board are different from those before an ordinary court of law. The settlement arrived at between the parties is not an agreement imposed by the Boards but one arrived at voluntarily by the parties, before the Debt Conciliation Board. However, the Board has the power to reduce the unreasonable rates of interest charged or in case of failure on the part of the parties to accept the just suggestions made by the Board to issue a certificate under the Ordinance to the debtors. Further, if the creditors fail to appear before the Board at the final hearing in response to the notice issued, an expert hearing is held after which a certificate is issued to the debtor. However, only if the Board is satisfied that the creditor has intentionally failed to attend the inquiry to be held after notice is issued through registered post and the Grama Niladhari. On such occasions, the benefit of the issue of such a certificate will accrue to the debtor. If this certificate is produced to a court before which a trial is being held on the same matter, that court is empowered under the Debt Conciliation Ordinance to allow a period subject to a maximum of 10 years for the settlement of the loan and reduce the interest to the minimum rate and not to recover any costs from the debtor.
No 35A,
Dr N.M Perera Mawatha,
Colombo 08.
+94 112 697 910/ +94 112 697 911
+94 112 697 911
| View & Download | |
| Application For Relief Under the Debt Conciliation Ordinance |  |
| Instructions to Complete the Application | |
| Functions of the Department of Debt Conciliation Board | |
