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2023 Revised Edition
Contents

Chapter XVI · The Superior Courts

136. Rules of the Supreme Court

Unofficial copy, with amendments up to 31 Oct 2022. Later amendments are not included. Check the official text before you rely on it.

(1)

Subject to the provisions of the

Constitution and of any law the Chief Justice with any three Judges of the Supreme Court nominated by him, may, from time to time, make rules regulating generally the practice and procedure of the Court including -

(a)

rules as to the procedure for hearing appeals and other matters pertaining to appeals including the terms under which appeals to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal 125 - Substituted by the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 30.

are to be entertained and provision for the dismissal of such appeals for non-compliance with such rules;

(b)

rules as to the proceedings in the Supreme

Court and Court of Appeal in the exercise of the several jurisdictions conferred on such Courts by the Constitution or by any law, including the time within which such matters may be instituted or brought before such Courts and the dismissal of such matters for non-compliance with such rules;

(c)

rules as to the granting of bail;

(d)

rules as to the stay of proceedings;

(e)

rules providing for the summary determination of any appeal or any other matter before such Court by petition or otherwise, which appears to the Court to be frivolous and vexatious or brought for the purpose of delay;

(f)

the preparation of copies of records for the purpose of appeal or other proceedings in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal;

(g)

the admission, enrolment, suspension and removal of Attorneys-at-Law 126[ .... ] and the rules of conduct and etiquette for such

Attorneys-at-Law;

(h)

the attire of Judges, Attorneys-at-Law, officers of Court and persons attending the

Courts in Sri Lanka whether established by the Constitution, or by Parliament or by existing law;

126 - Omitted by the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Sec.3.

(i)

the manner in which panels of jurors may be prepared and the mode of summoning, empanelling and challenging of jurors;

(j)

proceedings of Fiscals and other ministerial officers of such courts and the process of such courts and the mode of executing the same;

(k)

the binding effect of the decisions of the

Supreme Court;

(l)

all matters of practice and procedure including the nature and extent of costs that may be awarded, the manner in which such costs may be taxed and the stamping of documents in the

Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Courts of First Instance not specially provided by or under any law.

(2)

Every rule made under this Article shall be published in the Gazette and shall come into operation on the date of such publication or on such later date as may be specified in such rule.

(3)

All rules made under this Article shall as soon as convenient after their publication in the Gazette be brought before Parliament for approval. Any such rule which is not so approved shall be deemed to be rescinded as from the date it was not so approved, but without prejudice to anything previously done thereunder.

(4)

The Chief Justice and any three Judges of the

Supreme Court nominated by him may amend, alter or revoke any such rules of court and such amendment, alteration or revocation of the rules will operate in the like manner as set out in the preceding paragraph with reference to the making of the rules of court.

The Court of Appeal

Chapter XVII

Finance

Chapter XVIIA

146[CHAPTER XVII a

Chapter XVIII

Public Security

Chapter XVIIIA

National Police Commission

Chapter XIX

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration

Chapter XIXA

Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption

Chapter XIXB

National Procurement Commission

Chapter XX

General

Chapter XXI

Transitional Provisions

Chapter XXII

Interpretation

Chapter XXIII

Repeal

Chapter XXIV

Promulgation of the Constitution

Schedules