2. Amendment of section 205 of Chapter 101

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

The Civil Procedure Code (Chapter 101) is hereby amended by the repeal of section 205 thereof and substitution therefor of the following section:-

205. (1) The Registrar of the court shall, where the respective parties to an action apply for a certified copy of the judgment or final decree of the action or both, issue one certified copy of the same to each such party free of charge.

(2)

Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the Registrar of the court shall, upon any person-

(a)

making an application accompanied by such fee as may be determined from time to time by the Secretary to the Ministry of the Minister assigned the subject of Justice by Notification published in the Gazette and supplying the necessary stamps, furnish to such person copies of the judgment, decree or proceedings in an action or any part thereof; or

“Persons to be entitled to certified copies of judgment, decree or proceedings in any action

(b)

making an application and producing the necessary stamps, examine and certify to the correctness of any such copies made by such person:

Provided that, a person other than a party to a matrimonial action, an adoption application or a custody application shall not be entitled to obtain certified copies of any proceedings or documents of such action or application, except the judgment, order or decree thereof:

Provided further that, upon being satisfied as to the requirement of an applicant who is not a party to such matrimonial action, adoption application or custody application, the court may direct the Registrar of such court to issue to such applicant, certified copies of the proceedings or documents of such action or application.

(3)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 76 of the Evidence

Ordinance (Chapter 14) or any other written law, a document issued or transmitted electronically by a court shall be deemed for the purposes of authentication and verification, to have been signed, sealed and dated by court, where such document–

(a)

if originally created in electronic form, contains the electronic signature and electronic seal of the

Registrar or such other officer authorized by law to place the signature together with his name and official title, the electronic seal of the court, and the date; or

(b)

if originally created in paper form and converted into an electronic copy in portable document format

(PDF) or by similar file converter technology, contains the signature and seal of the Registrar or such other officer authorized by law to place the signature, together with his name and official title, the seal of the court, and the date.”.

Read on from s 3