Speaker signs Judicature Bill

• Permanent High Court at Bar can be established

By Skandha Gunasekara

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday signed the Judicature (Amendment) Bill, allowing its provisions to be implemented. 

The Judicature (Amendment) Bill was presented to Parliament on 6 March 2018 by Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorala.

The Bill was passed, following a day-long debate, by Parliament on 9 May 2018.

Accordingly, the new law will give legal effect to (a) make provisions for the Permanent High Court at Bar to try, hear and determine the trials of the offences specified in the Sixth Schedule to the principal enactment and any other offence committed in the course of the same transaction of any such offence; (b) specify the composition of the Permanent High Court at Bar; (c) enable the Minister to specify the location or locations of the Permanent High Court at Bar; (d) enable the Attorney General and the Director General for the Prevention of Bribery and Corruption to institute criminal proceedings in the Permanent High Court at Bar; (e) make certain other provisions which shall apply for the trials of the Permanent High Court at Bar; (f) make provision for an appeal from the Permanent High Court at Bar to be heard by a bench of not less than five judges of the Supreme Court; and (g) make provision for the construction of other written law, consistent with the provisions of this amendment.

In addition, such a Permanent High Court at Bar shall consist of three judges sitting together, nominated by the Judicial Service Commission from among the Judges of the High Court of the Republic of Sri Lanka of which one Judge shall be nominated by the Judicial Service Commission as the Chairman of such Court.”

Under Article 79 and 80 of the Constitution, a Bill legally becomes an Act only after the Speaker has endorsed the Bill with his signature after being passed by Parliament.