Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka

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Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
Emblem of Sri Lanka.svg
Emblem of Sri Lanka
Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
6°56′06″N79°51′42″E / 6.93507°N 79.86172°E / 6.93507; 79.86172
Established1971
Jurisdiction Sri Lanka
Location Hulftsdorp, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Coordinates 6°56′06″N79°51′42″E / 6.93507°N 79.86172°E / 6.93507; 79.86172
Authorised by Government of Sri Lanka
Appeals to Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
Number of positions20
Website courtofappeal.lk
President of the Court of Appeal
Currently Rohantha Abeysooriya
Since19 June 2025

The Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka, commonly known as the Appeal Court, is the second most senior court in the Sri Lankan legal system, with only the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka above it. Established in 1971, under the Court of Appeal Act No. 44 of 1971, the Appeal Court has jurisdiction to hear appeals from the High Court or any lower court; its own decisions may be additionally appealed to the Supreme Court. The Appeal Court is headed by the president of the Court of Appeal. [1]

Contents

Composition

Size of court

The Court of Appeal consists of the president of the Court of Appeal and not fewer than six and not more than nineteen other judges, as stipulated in Article 137 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. [2] The court was expanded to its current size on 29 October 2020 through the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution. Previously, it comprised the president of the Court of Appeal and a maximum of eleven other judges. [3] [4]

Dress

Appeal Court judges wear dark purple gowns when attending court. On special ceremonial occasions (such as ceremonial sittings of the Appeal Court) they wear dark purple gowns, barrister's bands, mantle, and a long wig.

Judges of the Court

As of 28 October 2025, the most recent judges to join the court are Rohantha Abeysooriya, Francis Gunawardena and Adithya Patabendige, whose tenures commenced on 19 June 2025.

As of 28 October 2025
  President of the Court of Appeal
Current Judges of the Court of Appeal [5]
No.JudgeAppointed byStart date /
length of service		Current statusRef.
– Rohantha Abeysooriya ––
  • 52nd President of the Court of Appeal
  • Appointed by: Dissanayake
  • 19 June 2025
  • 131 days
 [6]
1 Sriyanath Karalliyadde G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020
4 years, 331 days		Judge [7]
2 Ratnapriya Gurusinghe G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020
4 years, 331 days		Judge [7]
3 Dhammika Ganepola G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020
4 years, 331 days		Judge [7]
4 Mayadunne Corea G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020
4 years, 331 days		Judge [7]
5 Prabaharan Kumararatnam G. Rajapaksa 1 December 2020
4 years, 331 days		Judge [7]
6 Sasi Mahendran G. Rajapaksa 14 June 2021
4 years, 136 days		Judge [8]
7 Sanjeeva Morais Wickremesinghe 7 August 2023
2 years, 82 days		Judge [9]
8 Gihan Kulatunga Wickremesinghe 6 September 2024
1 year, 52 days		Judge [10]
9 Damitha Thotawatta Wickremesinghe 6 September 2024
1 year, 52 days		Judge [10]
10 Amal Ranaraja Wickremesinghe 6 September 2024
1 year, 52 days		Judge [10]
11 Mahen Gopallawa Wickremesinghe 6 September 2024
1 year, 52 days		Judge [10]
12 Sarath Dissanayake Dissanayake 9 January 2025
292 days		Judge [11]
13 Rohitha Hettiarachchi Dissanayake 9 January 2025
292 days		Judge [11]
14 Sumudu Premachandra Dissanayake 11 March 2025
231 days		Judge [12]
15 K. Priyantha Fernando Dissanayake 11 March 2025
231 days		Judge [12]
16 Annalingam Premashankar Dissanayake 11 March 2025
231 days		Judge [12]
17 Francis Gunawardena Dissanayake 19 June 2025
131 days		Judge [6]
18 Adithya Patabendige Dissanayake 19 June 2025
131 days		Judge [6]
19Vacant

References

  1. ↑ Court of Appeal of Sri Lanka
  2. ↑ "The Constitution of the D. S. R. of Sri Lanka (as amended up to 31 October 2022) – Revised edition 2023" (PDF). www.parliament.lk. 31 October 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  3. ↑ "Parliament of the D. S. R. of Sri Lanka: Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution" (PDF). www.parliament.lk. 29 October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  4. ↑ Padmasiri, Ranjith; Rubatheesan, S. (1 November 2020). "SC bench to be expanded from 11 to 17; CA 12 to 19". www.sundaytimes.lk. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Honourable Judges of the Court of Appeal". courtofappeal.lk. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "New President and two Judges of Appeals Court sworn in". www.adaderana.lk. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "President appoints new judges to the Supreme Court & Court of Appeal". english.newsfirst.lk. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  8. ↑ "New Judge of the Supreme Court and new President of the Court of Appeal sworn in". Times Online. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "High Court Judge Morais sworn in as Court of Appeal judge". Times Online. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "President appoints new judges to Court of Appeal". www.adaderana.lk. 6 September 2024. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
  11. 1 2 "President appoints two new judges to Court of Appeal". www.dailymirror.lk. 9 January 2025. Archived from the original on 9 January 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 "Three new Court of Appeal Justices sworn in". www.adaderana.lk. 11 March 2025. Archived from the original on 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
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