Step 1: Frame the legal issue
Write the question in one or two sentences, with the material facts, the parties and the remedy you are considering. Decide which area of law is engaged, such as contract, land, labour, criminal procedure or family law. Then check whether a personal law, such as Kandyan law, Thesawalamai or Muslim law, might apply.
A precise question gives better search results, whether you use a library, a database or an AI research tool.
Step 2: Find the governing legislation
Start with the Constitution and the statute that governs the area, such as the Civil Procedure Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, the Evidence Ordinance, the Penal Code or the Companies Act. Then look for:
- amendments and the version in force on the relevant date;
- regulations and orders published in the Gazette;
- connected enactments referred to in the provision.
Step 3: Find the case law
Look for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions that interpret the provision or principle. Historical decisions are reported in the New Law Reports (NLR), and later decisions in the Sri Lanka Law Reports (SLR) and other series. Recent unreported judgments appear on the courts’ websites. Our guide to Sri Lankan case law and law reports explains the series and how to cite them.
Step 4: Read the authority properly
Read the judgment, not just a headnote or a summary. Identify the court, the material facts, the issue decided and the reasoning. Separate the ratio from passing observations, and note whether the decision is binding on your court or only persuasive.
Step 5: Check that it is still good law
Check whether a later decision has overruled, distinguished or followed the case, and whether the statute has been amended since. Where Sri Lankan authority is thin, consider Commonwealth decisions from the United Kingdom, India, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. Use them with care and explain why they are relevant.
Step 6: Use AI research tools carefully
AI research tools can shorten the search for relevant authorities, but they do not replace reading them. Use a tool that cites its sources, open every cited judgment and provision, and verify quotations and citations before you rely on them. Lex is built for exactly this workflow: see how it works or read our guide to AI legal research in Sri Lanka.
Questions and answers
How do I start legal research in Sri Lanka?
Start by writing down the legal issue and the material facts. Then find the governing legislation, look for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions on the point, read them in full and check that they are still good law.
What are the main sources of Sri Lankan law for research?
The Constitution, Acts and ordinances, Gazette regulations, reported and unreported judgments (NLR, SLR and others), Roman-Dutch authorities and textbooks, and persuasive Commonwealth decisions.
Can I use AI for legal research in Sri Lanka?
Yes, as long as you verify the results. Use a tool that cites its sources, open each cited judgment or provision, and apply your own professional judgement before relying on an answer.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last updated 6 October 2026.