Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Heavy rain damages case files stored at Colombo District Court
Hundreds of case files at the Colombo District Court have been damaged after torrential rain swept through Colombo on September 15. The documents were temporarily stored in shipping containers following recent structural damage to the historic courthouse building.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
A significant number of case files at the Colombo District Court were soaked and damaged during heavy rainfall that affected the capital on September 15, according to reports from the courthouse.
The incident occurred while case documentation was being stored in shipping containers outside the main building. The temporary storage arrangement was implemented after part of the historic courthouse structure recently collapsed, necessitating the relocation of sensitive judicial records.
The exposure of the case files to the elements has raised concerns about the preservation of important legal documents and the potential impact on ongoing court proceedings. The deteriorated condition of some files may complicate access to case records and procedural timelines.
The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges at one of Sri Lanka's primary judicial institutions. The courthouse, which houses the district court serving the capital, has faced structural integrity issues that have forced authorities to explore makeshift storage solutions for its extensive archive of case files.
It remains unclear what remedial measures are being undertaken to protect the remaining documents or assess the full extent of damage to the water-affected files.