Sri Lanka > General provisions

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, No. 38 of 2022. -

Adoption: 2022-11-17 | LKA-2022-L-113985

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Twenty First Amendment to the Constitution (L.D.- O. 12/2022). -

Adoption: 2022-10-31 | LKA-2022-L-113986

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Code Of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, No. 14 of 2021. -

Adoption: 2021-07-15 | LKA-2021-L-113980

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution (L.D.- O. 7/2020). -

Adoption: 2020-10-29 | LKA-2020-L-110648

Makes various amendments to the constitution and was passed with 156 of the 225 parliamentarians voting in favour of the amendment. It expands the powers and functions of the President. Inter alia, it gives the President sole and unfettered discretion to appoint all judges of the superior courts and reintroduces the Parliamentary Council, made up of politically appointed advisors to the President.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 10 of 2018. -

Adoption: 2018-05-21 | LKA-2018-L-106575

The Act amends Sections 75 and 76 of the Code increasing the age of criminal liability from eight to twelve years old. The amendment extends this a litte by stating that a child between the ages of twelve and fourteen who has « not sufficient maturity of understanding » is also excepted from criminal liabilty.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, No. 11 of 2018. -

Adoption: 2018-05-21 | LKA-2018-L-106608

The Act inserts a new section 122A in the Code in order to ascertain the degree of maturity and responsibility for a criminal act committed by a child over the age of 12 years old and under 14 years old. This amendment was adopted in order to enforce the amendment to section 76 of the Penal Code which increases the age of responsibillity for criminal acts.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance Act, No. 5 of 2018. -

Adoption: 2018-03-21 | LKA-2018-L-106609

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

National HIV/STI Strategic Plan Sri Lanka 2018-2022: Towards Ending AIDS. -

Adoption: 2018 | LKA-2018-M-112760

The NSP for HIV/STI, 2018-2022 has been developed with technical guidance provided by a National Steering Committee and financial support from the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM). During the process of development, inputs were taken from relevant stakeholders from DGHS, NSACP, officials from peripheral STD clinics, community based organizations (CBOs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs), networks of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and representatives of key populations (KPs) through various meetings and discussion.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Sri Lanka Sustainable Development Act, No. 19 of 2017. -

Adoption: 2017-10-03 | LKA-2017-L-106760

The Act has been adopted to develop and implement a National Policy and Strategy on Sustainable Development and establish a Sustainable Development Council in order to establish and work towards achieving national goals based on the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in national planning processes, policies and strategies in the relevant ongoing processes in the economic, social and environmental fields.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, No. 18 of 2016. -

Adoption: 2016-10-17 | LKA-2016-L-103445

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Right to Information Act, No. 12 of 2016. -

Adoption: 2016-08-04 | LKA-2016-L-103446

An Act to provide for the right of access to information to specify grounds on which access may be denied; to establish the Right to Information Commission; to appoint Information Officers; to set out the procedure and formatters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Microfinance Act, No. 6 of 2016. -

Adoption: 2016-05-20 | LKA-2016-L-103506

An Act to provide for the licensing, regulation and supervision of companies carrying on microfinance business; the registration of non-governmental organisations accepting limited savings deposits as microfinance non-governmental organizations; for the setting up of standards for the regulation and supervision of microfinance non-governmental organizations and micro credit non-governmental organizations, and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Constitution

Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution. -

Adoption: 2015-05-15 | LKA-2015-C-100356

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, No. 4 of 2015. -

Adoption: 2015-03-07 | LKA-2015-L-100355

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Companies (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 2014. -

Adoption: 2014-04-24 | LKA-2014-L-96956

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Act, No 25 of 2013. -

Adoption: 2013-05-08 | LKA-2013-L-94270

Makes numerous amendments to the Births and Deaths Registration Act, (Chapter 110) concerning the payment of fees for certain procedures.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Strategic Development Projects (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 2013. -

Adoption: 2013-04-23 | LKA-2013-L-94268

Amends the Schedule to the Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Code of Criminal Procedure (Special Provisions) Act, No. 2 of 2013. -

Adoption: 2013-02-06 | LKA-2013-L-94266

Provides for the extension of the period of detention of persons arrested without a warrant in order to facilitate the conduct of investigations. Dispenses with the conduct of the non-summary inquiry in certain cases. Provides for the taking of depositions of witnesses for the prosecution.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 28 of 2011. -

Adoption: 2011-05-25 | LKA-2011-L-92343

Makes provision for a voter who is subject to a disability to be accompanied by a persons when voting at elections. Amends the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance (Chapter 262), the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, the Referendum Act, No. 7 of 1981, the Presidential Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981 and the Provincial Councils Elections Act, No. 2 of 1988.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Provincial Councils (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 2010. -

Adoption: 2010-10-13 | LKA-2010-L-92339

Amendment of section 25 of the Act.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Constitution

Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, 2010. -

Adoption: 2010-09-09 | LKA-2010-C-90063

Revises articles 31, 32, 41A to 41H (new Chapter concerning the Executive - The Parliamentary Council), 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 61E, 65, 92, 103, 104B, 104E, 107, 109, 11D, 11E, 153, 154, 154R, 155A, 155FF, 155FFF, 155G, 155H, 155J, 155K, 155L, 155M, 156 and 170.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Maligawatta Janaza and Welfare Society (Incorporation) Act, No. 5 of 2010. -

Adoption: 2010-02-09 | LKA-2010-L-92336

Establishes the Maligawatta Janaza and Welfare Society, which is a Muslim foundation intended to promote and and ensure the welfare of its members.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Pulathisi Daruwo Foundation Trust (Incorporation) Act, No. 6 of 2010. -

Adoption: 2010-02-09 | LKA-2010-L-92337

Establishes the Pulathisi Daruwo Foundation Trust. The objectives of the Foundation are:
(a) to organize, conduct and develop the educational activities and pre-training activities for the poor children and youth;
(b) to promote skills of youths;
(c) to encourage the farmers and to establish young Farmers Organizations;
(d) to grant opportunities for training for youth in prevocational education, sports activities, leadership, computer, media and Tamil, English and other languages;
(e) to train persons engaged in activities in furtherance of national unity by conducting seminars, discussions and workshops;
(f) to commemorate and honour outstanding persons who have contributed towards national unity, by grant of awards, prizes, scholarships and fellowships;
(g) to establish libraries, archives and centres to preserve and to protect the cultural heritage of all communities in Sri Lanka;
(h) to promote welfare activities for the benefit of children, women and orphans;
(i) to provide assistance by way of scholarships, loans advances and grants to deserving students to pursue studies and research in Sri Lanka and abroad;
(j) to establish and maintain Institutions for the welfare and rehabilitation of the destitute, the disable, the aged, the sick and displaced Persons;
(k) to promote mutual understanding and co-operation among people irrespective of race and religion; and
(l) to establish and maintain projects for the protection, management and conservation of the environment.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industry (Incorporation) (Amendment) Ac, No. 1 of 2010. -

Adoption: 2010-01-13 | LKA-2010-L-92330

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industry changes its to the Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries. Any reference to the "Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industry (Incorporation) Act", is replaced by the words "Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (Incorporation) Act". In addition all reference to the "Sri Lanka Chamber of Small Industry" is replaced by the words "Sri Lanka Chamber of Small and Medium Industries".

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Strategic Development Projects Act, No. 14 of 2008. -

Adoption: 2008-02-29 | LKA-2008-L-94269

An Act to promote strategic development projects, to provide a tax free period in relations to identified strategic development projects and provide for matters connected or therewith or incidental thereto.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 16 of 2006 -

Adoption: 2006-04-24 | LKA-2006-L-74477

Amends sections 2 (scope), 308A and 345. Inserts new sections 286B on "Duty of person providing service by computer to prevent sexual abuse of a child" and 286C on "Duty to inform of use of premises for child abuse". Also inserts a new section 358A on "Debt bondage, serfdom, forced or compulsory labour, slavery and recruitment of children for use in armed conflict". Replaces section 360C on trafficking and inserts sections 360D and 360E on "Offences related to adoption" and on "Soliciting a child". Also amends sections 364, 365, 365A and 365B.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No. 34 of 2005. -

Adoption: 2005-10-03 | LKA-2005-L-94283

An Act to provide for the prevention of any act of domestic violence and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Tsunami (Special Provisions) Act, No. 16 of 2005. -

Adoption: 2005-06-13 | LKA-2005-L-94371

An Act to enable special legal provisions to be made in respect of persons and property affected by the tsunami that occured on December 26 2004 and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Part I - Issue of Death Certificates
Part II - Custody of Children and Young Persons
Part III - Prescription
Part IV - Actions under Section 66 of the Primary Courts' Procedure Act
Part V - Tenants of Premises
Part VI - Offences in respect of Tsunami Relief Property

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) (amendment) Regulation of 2000.

Adoption: 2000-07-01 | LKA-2000-R-67213

Modifies section 14 on the control of publications.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) (amendment) Regulation of 2000.

Adoption: 2000-05-16 | LKA-2000-R-67212

Modifies paragraphs 2 and 2A of the section 19, containing special provisions regarding persons arrested and detained under regulation 18.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulation, No. 1 of 2000.

Adoption: 2000-05-03 | LKA-2000-R-67211

Provides that the President may require, or may delegate to any one the power to require, any person to do any work or render any personal service in aid, or in connection with, national security or the maintenance of essential services.
Contains provisions on the control of meetings, processions and publications.
Part I: General (sections 1 to 7)
Part II: Acquisition and requisitioning of property and requisitioning of personal services (sections 8 to 10B)
Part III: Control of meetings, processions, publications, firearms and right of entry (sections 11 to 15)
Part IV: Supervision, search arrest and detention (sections 16 to 22)
Part V: Offences and penalties (sections 23 to 48)
Part VI: Investigations, Trials (sections 49 to 62)
Part VII: Miscellaneous (sections 63 to 72)

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Community Based Corrections Act, No. 46 of 1999. -

Adoption: 1999-12-10 | LKA-1999-L-110645

The law regulates community based sentences in lieu of imprisonment for certain offences.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Parliament (Powers and Privileges) (Amendment) Act (No. 27 of 1997).

Adoption: 1997-10-21 | LKA-1997-L-50140

Amendments to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act (No. 5 of 1978) regarding sanctions for breach of privileges.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Act (No. 21 of 1996). -

Adoption: 1996-08-21 | LKA-1996-L-47404

Establishes a Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka with the function of investigating human rights abuses and making recommendations to the Government to ensure the implementation of international treaties in the field of human rights. S. 28 requires that the Commission be notified of any arrest or detention of a person under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act (No. 48 of 1979) or the regulations under the Public Security Ordinance. The Commission may authorise a person to enter any place of detention to make inquiries.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Southern Development Authority of Sri Lanka Act (No. 18 of 1996).

Adoption: 1996-08-01 | LKA-1996-L-47406

Establishes a Southern Development Authority of Sri Lanka with the function of promoting development projects in southern Sri Lanka. S. 17 allows the Authority to acquire land through compulsion for development use.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Samurdhi Authority of Sri Lanka Act (No. 30 of 1995).

Adoption: 1995-12-11 | LKA-1995-L-44236

Establishes a Samurdhi Authority of Sri Lanka with the function of developing a Samurdhi National Programme for the improvement of the economic and social conditions of youth, women and disadvantaged groups. The Authority shall have the power to maintain "Samurdhi Centres" at the local level, to operate credit schemes, to arrange and conduct lotteries, and to provide vocational training programmes.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 1993. -

Adoption: 1995-10-31 | LKA-1995-L-50744

Inserts new sections which prohibit child pornography, child prostitution, procurement of persons for prostitution, sexual harassment; defines the offenses of rape and incest.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act (No. 17 of 1995).

Adoption: 1995-09-04 | LKA-1995-L-42588

Amends Consumer Protection Act (No. 1 of 1979) to include food, drink, or any other merchandise deemed by the Commissioner as essential to the life of the community.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Miscellaneous (circular, directive, legal notice, instruction, etc.)

National Workers' Charter.

Adoption: 1995-09-02 | LKA-1995-M-51654

Declares the intention of the Government to ratify, where possible, International Labour Organization Conventions. Declares that the State shall ensure freedom of association and the rights of migrant and disabled workers, and provide for increased access to vocational training, social security schemes, and for the fixing of minimum wages. The State shall furthermore seek to prevent the exploitation of temporary employees, ensure a labour inspection service, and strengthen conciliation and arbitration machinery. For women, the State shall ensure equal opportunity and the enforcement of maternity benefit legislation. Part 7c states that the State shall take steps to prevent the employment of children in industry and domestic service.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Act, No. 22 of 1994. -

Adoption: 1994-12-20 | LKA-1994-L-113981

1. Short title.
2. Torture to be an offence.
3. Acts done during state of war. or on order of Superior Officer not to be a defence to an offence under this Act.
4. Jurisdiction of the High Court to try offences under this Act committed outside Sri Lanka.
5. Evidence.
6. Rights of certain persons arrested under this Act.
7. Duty of Minister to inform other States having jurisdiction over an offence.
8. Amendment to Extradition Law, No. 8 of 1977.
9. Provision regarding extradition arrangement.
10. Duty of Government to afford assistance to other States.
11. Sinhala text to prevail in case of inconsistency.
12. Interpretation.
SCHEDULE

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

National Institute of Social Development Act, No. 41 of 1992. -

Adoption: 1992-08-17 | LKA-1992-L-31895

Provides for the establishment of a National Institute of Social Development to advise the Minister regarding plans, programmes and activities for the development of social work and social development education, to conduct and promote studies on the social welfare system and social development programmes, and to make available to the Government and other approved organisations specialist services in social work and social development.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act (No. 34 of 1992)

Adoption: 1992-07-28 | LKA-1992-L-31896

Amends the Consumer Protection Act, No. 1 of 1979 regarding the alteration of labelling and the sale of goods with altered labels, and provides sanctions for contraventions of the Act.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Regulation, Decree, Ordinance

Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions and Powers) Regulations (No. 1 of 1989).

Adoption: 1989-06-20 | LKA-1989-R-44042

Allows, in the interest of national security, the seizure of specified property, the suppression of publications, and provides expanded powers of search and detention for security forces.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Provincial Councils Act 1987, No. 42 1987. -

Adoption: 1987-11-14 | LKA-1987-L-6236

Provides for the composition, financing and procedure to be followed by Provincial Councils established pursuant to the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Part IV concerns the Provincial Public Service Commission. Appointment, transfer, dismissal and discipline of officers of the provincial public service are vested in the Governor of that province (s. 32).

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Conversion of Public Corporations or Government Owned Business Undertakings into Public Companies Act 1987. No. 23.

Adoption: 1987-05-15 | LKA-1987-L-4711

Sets forth procedures applicable to the conversion of business undertakings acquired under the Business Undertakings (Acquisition) Act (No. 35 of 1971).

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Conversion of Government Owned Business Undertakings into Public Corporations Act 1987. No. 22.

Adoption: 1987-05-15 | LKA-1987-L-4712

Sets forth procedures for converting businesses acquired under the Business Undertakings (Acquisition) Act (No. 35 of 1971) into public corporations.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Pradeshiya Sabhas Act 1987. No. 15.

Adoption: 1987-04-16 | LKA-1987-L-4714

Provides for the establishment of Pradeshiya Sabhas, which are administratives units aimed at facilitating people's effective participation in local government and development functions. Their powers, listed in s. 19, include creating and filling posts, granting pensions, spending funds on maternity and child welfare services, relief activities, etc. Repeals the Town Councils Ordinance and the Village Councils Ordinance.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Development Councils (Amendment) Act 1987. No. 21.

Adoption: 1987-04-16 | LKA-1987-L-4717

Amends the Development Councils Act (No. 35 of 1980), in particular by redefining the functions of the Gramodaya Mandalaya, local bodies empowered to prepare village development plans, and providing measures for increasing productivity and generating employment, and for other purposes.

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Fair Trading Commission Act 1987. No. 1.

Adoption: 1987-01-22 | LKA-1987-L-3786

Establishes a Fair Trading Commission for the control of monopolies, mergers and anti-competitive practices and for the formulation of national price policy. Inter alia, the Commission is to have special regard to the efficient operation of public corporations and other objectives of economic and social policy. Repeals the National Prices Commission Law 1975 (No. 42).

Sri Lanka - General provisions - Law, Act

Land Reform (Special Provisions) Act 1986. No. 14.

Adoption: 1986-06-20 | LKA-1986-L-3141

Amends the Land Reform Law, No. 1 of 1972, and the Land Reform (Special Provisions) Act, No. 39 of 1981, in various respects, chiefly regarding compensation to landowners.