Tuesday Feb 24, 2026
Tuesday Feb 24, 2026
Monday, 16 February 2026 02:53 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has instructed officials to expedite the establishment of special High Courts in former ministerial residences in Colombo, as part of efforts to accelerate key prosecutions under the Anti-Corruption Action Plan (2025–2029).
The Minister issued the directives on Thursday (12) during an inspection visit of four official residences temporarily handed over to the Ministry by the Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry.
The properties inspected were located at No. B/88, Gregory Road; No. C 76, Bauddhaloka Mawatha; No. B108, Wijerama Road; and B 12, Stanmore Crescent, all in Colombo 07. These residences, previously used by former Ministers, are to be repurposed to establish additional Court facilities aimed at expediting judicial proceedings.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance judicial capacity, strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms, and ensure timely adjudication of high-profile and public interest cases.
A Special High Court has already been set up at the former Ministerial residence at No. C 76, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, to hear cases related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. During the visit, the Minister instructed officials to swiftly provide any remaining facilities required for the Court’s full functioning.
Discussions were also held on equipping the other three residences to enable the establishment of additional courts in line with the Ministry’s mandate to strengthen judicial efficiency and reduce case backlogs.
Minister Nanayakkara and Ministry officials undertook a special inspection of the newly completed Magistrate’s Court building under the Aluthkade Court Piyasa project in Colombo.
During the renovation of the Aluthkade High Court Complex, sittings of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka were temporarily conducted at the Magistrate’s Court premises. With renovation work now completed and Supreme Court proceedings relocated accordingly, discussions were held on the possibility of establishing five new High Courts within the Magistrate’s Court complex to further expedite case hearings.
Senior officials from the Justice and National Integration Ministry, Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry, and the Central Advisory Bureau for Engineering Affairs were present at the inspections.
