History of the District Court Mallakkam

The History of the District Court Mallakkam

Introduction: It is a Combined Court functioning as a unified judicial establishment that integrates both the District Court and Magistrate Court. It is situated in Mallakam, Jaffna District in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

The Court is committed to upholding the rule of law, ensuring equal access to justice, and delivering fair, impartial, and timely judicial decisions in full alignment with the constitution and the national laws of Sri Lanka.

Mallakkam Court Room

Historical Significance & Early Challenges

The Mallakam Court has long served as one of the principal judicial institutions in the Jaffna Peninsula. Over the years, it has played a significant role in the administration of civil and criminal justice, continuing its judicial functions through both normal and challenging periods while ensuring uninterrupted access to justice for the public.

Following the civil unrest in late 1987, all courts in the Jaffna Peninsula ceased functioning after court buildings were destroyed by arson. Judicial activities resumed in 1997. As the original court premises in Mallakam were no longer available, the Mallakam District Court initially commenced operations in a rented private house on Main Street, Jaffna, outside its territorial jurisdiction.

Relocations in 1999

In early 1999, the court was relocated to a two-story rented building on Mill Lane, near the Mallakam Junction. However, the premises proved inadequate to accommodate the growing judicial workload and court administration. Consequently, later that year, the court was shifted to a larger rented building on Bungalow Lane, situated approximately 400 meters south of the previous location.

Expansion & Official Intervention

At that time, the Mallakam District Court functioned as a combined court, with a single Judge presiding over both the District Court and the Magistrate's Court. As the volume of litigation continued to increase, the limitations of the existing premises became increasingly apparent.

During an official inspection by the Chief Justice and other senior judicial officers, the severe shortage of accommodation and court facilities was personally observed. Following this inspection, the Government initiated measures to appoint an Additional Judicial Officer and to establish a new court complex on the site where the original Mallakam Court had previously stood.

Inauguration of the New Complex (2014)

Finally, the well established newly constructed Court Complex, Mallakam was declared open on the 9th day of January, 2014 by Hon. Mohan Peiris - the Chief Justice of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.