Unofficial magistrate
An Unofficial magistrate in Sri Lanka is a Justice of the Peace appointed by the Minister of Justice to a particular jurisdiction. A Unofficial magistrate has the powers and authority vested in a Magistrate except the power to hear, try, or determine civil or criminal cases. It is a nominal position normally awarded to senior lawyer of the court, who as the unofficial magistrate site on behalf of the magistrate in his/her absence and postpone hearings to a later date. Persons appointed as Unofficial magistrates may use the post-nominal JP, UM.[1][2]
The post was known as Un-Official Police Magistrate (UPM) when the magistrate courts were known as police magistrate courts.[3]
Notable appointees
- Sir Razik Fareed, OBE, JP, UM
- Gate Mudaliyar Edmund Peiris, JP, UM
- T.G. Gooneratne, JP, UM