4. Amendment of section 27 of the principal enactment

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

Section 27 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows: -

(1)

in subsection (1) thereof-

(a)

in paragraph (b) by the substitution, for the words “party whom he represents; and”, of the words “party whom he represents;”; and

(b)

by the repeal of paragraph (c) thereof, and the substitution therefor of the following new paragraphs: -

“(c) include an electronic mail address and a mobile phone number to which service of any process, notice or any other legal documents may also be served on a registered attorney;

(d)

contain a memorandum substantially in the

Form No. 16A of the First Schedule in duplicate setting out the address, mobile phone number and the electronic mail address, if any, of such party which shall be considered as the registered address, the registered mobile phone number and the registered electronic mail address, respectively of such party. The registered attorney shall with such memorandum tender to the Registrar stamps to the value required to cover cost of service of such notices or other legal document by registered post and the registered attorney shall bear the cost of courier service or service through electronic means;”;

(2)

by the insertion immediately after subsection (2) of the following new subsection:-

“(2A) (a) Where a party is represented by a registered attorney, such attorney shall in the appointment, state the national identity card number, passport number or any other mode of identification, as the case may be, of the party and shall also make an endorsement thereon certifying the identity of such party. Where the party is a company or a body corporate the appointment shall be made under the seal of such company or a body corporate as the case may be.

(b)

In the event a person who resides outside

Sri Lanka is unable to meet his registered attorney to sign the appointment under subsection (1), such appointment shall be signed in the presence of any of the following authorized persons who shall certify the identity of such person: -

(i)

an Attorney-at-Law, a solicitor, a lawyer or a Notary of the country where such party resides; or

(ii)

the High Commissioner, the Ambassador, a diplomatic officer or a consular officer of the Sri Lankan High Commission, Embassy or Consular Office in the country in which such party resides.

(c)

In the case of any delay or any difficulty to produce the original of the appointment within the specified time, a copy of the original in electronic form may be produced in court subject to production of the original of such appointment within a reasonable time as the court may direct.”.

Read on from s 5