Speaker certifies COVID-19 bill

COLOMBO (News 1st) : 

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has certified the 2019 Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill, the Parliament Communications Unit says.

The bill was passed in Parliament without a vote on 17 August.

Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said that the Speaker signed the agreement on 23 August. Accordingly, the 2019 Corona Viral Diseases (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 17 of 2021 came into force on 23 August. The purpose of this is to provide for alternative courts in cases where persons are unable to perform certain acts prescribed by law within the time limit due to COVID-19 status as well as when a court is unable to carry out its proceedings due to the virus. The Act will also provide for the use of telecommunications technology to facilitate the control of the COVID-19 situation and to make temporary provisions for related matters, including the provision of relief to the parties which have failed to fulfill their contractual obligations due to the COVID-19 situation. https://twitter.com/ParliamentLK/status/1430807500928913413