Civil Law
Civil disputes spanning contracts, tort, property, family, probate, and related private-law issues.
II · Overview
How we approach law.
Our civil-law practice covers a broad range of contentious private-law matters requiring structured pleadings, evidentiary discipline, and steady representation.
This includes civil litigation, contract disputes, tort claims, property disputes, defamation, and family-law issues such as divorce, custody, adoption, and guardianship.
Civil proceedings run on the Civil Procedure Code, and its structure rewards preparation early: pleadings define the issues, the pre-trial stage narrows them, and the trial is largely confined to what the pleadings admitted. A claim framed loosely at the outset is difficult to sharpen once the issues have been settled.
Two statutes decide more cases than their profile suggests. The Prescription Ordinance sets the periods within which actions must be brought, and a claim discovered late is often a claim already lost. The Evidence Ordinance governs what can actually be proved. Most civil disputes are won or lost in the gap between what a client knows and what the court can be shown.
Property and family matters carry their own procedural weight: partition actions under the Partition Law No. 21 of 1977, title questions turning on the Registration of Documents Ordinance, testamentary proceedings, and matrimonial matters where personal law may apply alongside the general law.
We approach these matters with care for both legal strategy and the practical realities often affecting families, businesses, and long-running relationships.
III · Index of Services
What we handle.
Civil litigation
Contract disputes
Tort claims
Property disputes
Defamation
Family law
Divorce and custody
Adoption and guardianship
IV · Representations
We have acted for those who require discretion.
Private individuals
Families
Property holders
Businesses involved in civil disputes
V · Connected Writing
Insights, in context.
VI · Common Questions
Questions we are often asked.
- How long is there to bring a civil claim?
- It depends on the nature of the claim, and the periods are set by the Prescription Ordinance — different for contract, for land, and for actions on a written instrument. Time generally runs from when the cause of action arose, not from when the claimant appreciated it, so checking the position early is worth more than almost any other first step.
- What is a partition action and why do they take so long?
- It is the process under the Partition Law No. 21 of 1977 by which co-owned land is divided or sold and the proceeds distributed. They are slow because the court must first establish every co-owner's share, which means tracing title through the chain of devolution, often across generations and incomplete records.
- How long does a civil case take in Sri Lanka?
- It varies with the court, the complexity, and the evidence. A civil action moves through pleadings, a pre-trial stage, trial, and judgment, and disciplined preparation at the pleading stage often shortens what follows.
- Which courts hear civil disputes?
- Most civil disputes begin in the District Court, with smaller matters in the Magistrate's or Primary Courts. Appeals lie to the Civil Appellate High Court or the Court of Appeal depending on the matter.
- Do you handle family matters such as divorce and custody?
- Yes. The civil practice includes divorce, judicial separation, maintenance, custody, and guardianship, handled with attention to both the law and the family circumstances involved.
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VII · Engage Counsel
Discuss your matter.
Conversations with the Chambers are confidential. We respond within one working day.
