Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts

Primary Courts' Procedure Act (No. 44 of 1979)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

   1.	   Short title and date of operation  
   2.	   The civil and criminal jurisdiction of Primary Courts to be exclusive  
   3.	   Duty of courts in cases within exclusive jurisdiction of Primary Courts  
   4.	   Right of Court of Appeal or Attorney-General to direct transfer of criminal case to Magistrate's Court  
   5.	   Power of Court of Appeal to transfer case to District Court  
   6.	   Judge of the Primary Court to report case more appropriately triable elsewhere to Court of Appeal for order  
   7.	   Where case is beyond jurisdiction duty to refer party to competent court  
   8.	   Sentences which a Primary Court may pass  
   9.	   Sentence of imprisonment for term of less than seven days  
   10.	   Sentences of detention in precincts of court in lieu of imprisonment  
   11.	   Power of Primary Court to sentence to imprisonment in default of payment of fine  
   12.	   Community service order  
   13.	   Suspended sentence of imprisonment  
   14.	   Sentence in case of conviction for several offences at one trial  
   15.	   Payment of costs and compensation when complaint is frivolous or vexatious  
   16.	   Payment of compensation upon conviction  
   17.	   Court may order payment of the fine paid or part of it to injured party  
   18.	   Power of court to permit conditional release of offenders  
   19.	   Conditions of recognizance  
   20.	   Power of court to vary conditions of recognizance  
   21.	   Provision in case of offender failing to observe conditions of recognizance  
   22.	   Whipping in certain cases  
   23.	   Fine may be paid in instalments  
   24.	   Mode of institution of prosecution  
   25.	   Institution of proceedings in Primary Courts  
   26.	   Issue of summons or warrant  
   27.	   Power of court to issue process  
   28.	   Procedure when accused appears  
   29.	   Withdrawal of charge  
   30.	   Primary Court to transmit proceedings to Attorney-General when required  
   31.	   Procedure at hearing  
   32.	   Legal representation  
   33.	   Procedure at trial  
   34.	   Disposal of documents and productions  
   35.	   Inspection of scene  
   36.	   Absence of Judge  
   37.	   Institution of action  
   38.	   Filing of plaint  
   39.	   Pleadings  
   40.	   Plaint to be numbered  
   41.	   What causes of action may be joined  
   42.	   Summons to issue  
   43.	   The defendant to appear and admit or deny the claim. If the defendant admits the claim  
   44.	   Examination of parties  
   45.	   of the claim In reconvention  
   46.	   Fixing the case for trial  
   47.	   Immaterial variance to be disregarded  
   48.	   Legal representation  
   49.	   Framing of issues  
   50.	   Procedure at trial  
   51.	   Claim in reconvention  
   52.	   Power to summon witnesses and issue warrants  
   53.	   Proceedings on default of appearance of plaintiff  
   54.	   Appeals  
   55.	   Procedure on receiving appeal  
   56.	   Preparation of the appeal briefs  
   57.	   Hearing of the appeal  
   58.	   Powers of the Court of appeal on appeals  
   59.	   Judgment in appeal to be given in open court  
   60.	   Order of the Court of Appeal to be certified to Primary Court  
   61.	   Abatement of appeals  
   62.	   Court of Appeal may call for record and make order  
   63.	   Computation of time  
   64.	   Stamp duty in civil actions  
   65.	   Costs  
   66.	   Reference of disputes affecting land  
   67.	   Inquiry to be held in summary manner  
   68.	   Determination and order of Judge of the Primary Court when dispute is in regard to possession  
   69.	   Determination and order of Judge of the Primary Court when dispute is in regard to any other right  
   70.	   Security for possession or exercise of any right may be ordered  
   71.	   Order where no party appears  
   72.	   For determination of Judge of the Primary Court, material on which he may act  
   73.	   Penalty for contravention of or failure to comply with order  
   74.	   Order not to affect right or interest which may-be established in civil suit  
   75.	   Meaning of " dispute affecting land "  
   76.	   Fiscal to execute orders of court  
   77.	   Pending proceedings  
   78.	   Casus omissus