The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill has been certified by Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.
The Bill was passed in Parliament without a vote on 17 August 2021.
A Gazette notification was also issued on the “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions)” Bil.
The Bill aims to provide relief within the legal framework for those adversely affected by Covid-19.
“Provisions in the Act such as the alternative designation of courts and those related to remote hearing are in line with the wider reform agenda of digitization and addressing of law’s delays by the Ministry’s Justice Sector Reform Programme,” Coordinating Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, Attorney-at-Law Shamir Zavahir said.
The Bill which was presented to Parliament by Minister of Justice Ali Sabry proposes the following temporary provisions:
-to make temporary provisions in relation to situations where persons were unable to perform certain actions required by law to be performed within the prescribed time periods due to Covid-19 circumstances;
– to assign alternative courts where a court cannot function due to Covid-19 circumstances; to conduct court proceedings using remote communication technology to facilitate the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19); and
-to grant relief in relation to parties to certain contracts who were unable to perform contractual obligations due to Covid-19 circumstances and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Download: Covid (Act) (E)
(NewsWire)