PARLIAMENT

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice held on Friday, the 15th of October chaired by the Hon. Justice Minister M. U. M. Ali Sabry, PC agreed upon presenting two Bills and Regulations in Parliament on October 21st.

Accordingly, the Youthful Offenders (Training Schools) (Amendment) Bill, Penal Code (Amendment) Bill and the Regulations made by the Minister of Justice under Section 840 of the Civil Procedure Code (Chapter 101) read with Section 214 of the said Code and published in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2234/67 dated 2nd July 2021 are being scheduled to be passed in Parliament post-debate.

The Youthful Offenders (Training Schools) (Amendment) Bill aims at amending the age limit previously established as below 18 to age between 18-22. The Bill also amends for the purpose of being gender neutral.  The amendment to the Penal Code establishes provisions to replace the verdict of death sentence being given to minors replacing it with custodial sentences.

Hon. State Minister Susil Premajayantha, Hon. Parliamentarians Sagara Kariyawasam, (Dr.) Suren Raghavan, Madhura Withanage, the Secretary to the Ministry of Justice M.M.P.K. Mayadunne and other officials were present at the meeting held.