History of the Naula Magistrate's Court

During the British colonial period, this location functioned as a Village Tribunal Court. The historic Village Tribunal building, constructed in 1927, remains preserved within the court premises to this day and stands as a strong testament to its rich historical heritage. Accordingly, with a history spanning nearly 99 years, the Magistrate's Court of Naula holds an important place within the judicial system of Sri Lanka as a significant historical institution.

The Laggala and Paldeniya Circuit Courts operate under the administrative supervision of the Magistrate's Court of Naula. These courts, which originally functioned as Village Tribunal Courts, were previously administered under the jurisdiction of the Magistrate's Court of Dambulla. Following the establishment of the Naula Magistrate's Court as a permanent court in 2011, the Paldeniya and Laggala Circuit Courts have continued to function under the administrative supervision of the Magistrate's Court of Naula.

Although written historical records relating to the Circuit Court of Laggala are limited, information obtained from long-standing residents of the area, together with records of past judicial activities, indicates that it has a history of more than 40 years.

Due to the Moragahakanda Irrigation Project, the former Laggala court building was submerged under the waters of the reservoir. Accordingly, from January 2020, the Circuit Court of Laggala has been operating from a newly constructed building. Although approval has been granted by the Ministry of Justice for its establishment as a permanent court, it continues to function as a Circuit Court under the administrative supervision of the Magistrate's Court of Naula.

The official judicial proceedings of the Magistrate's Court of Naula commenced on 1 March 2011, following the appointment of Hon. R. T. T. Gamage as the first Magistrate of the Court. Since then, ten Hon. Magistrates have served at this Court, and at present, Hon. J. A. N. S. Jayasuriya is serving as the 11th Magistrate of the Magistrate's Court of Naula.

With an almost century-long historical heritage, its continuous commitment to providing legal services to the people of the region, and its significant role within Sri Lanka's modern judicial system, the Magistrate's Court of Naula continues to fulfill its duties as one of the important judicial institutions in the Matale District.