5. Amendment of section 55 of the principal enactment

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

Section 55 of the principal enactment is hereby amended by the repeal of subsection (2) of that section, and the substitution therefor of the following subsections: -

“(2)(a) Every party to an action, not appearing by a registered attorney, shall on or before the date specified in the summons deliver to the Registrar a memorandum substantially in the Form No. 16A in the First Schedule in duplicate setting out the address, mobile phone number and the electronic mail address if any, which shall be considered as the registered address, the registered mobile phone number and the registered electronic mail address respectively of such party for the service of the notices or any other legal document required to be served on such party under the provisions of this Code unless otherwise provided. Every party shall inform the Registrar forthwith of any change in the address, the mobile phone number or the electronic mail address.

(b)

Every party 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. He shall bear the cost of courier service or service through electronic means.

(3)

Where a party appears by a registered attorney, the address, the mobile phone number and the electronic mail address of the registered attorney contained in his appointment under section 27 shall be deemed to be the registered address, the registered mobile phone number and the registered electronic mail address of such Attorney-at-Law so long as the appointment is in force.

(4)

Any notice or other legal document required to be served on any party shall be deemed sufficient service if served by registered post or courier service or through electronic means-

(i)

on such party on the registered address, the registered mobile phone number or the registered electronic mail address of such party; or

(ii)

on such registered attorney, where a party appears by a registered attorney and such appointment is in force, on the registered address, the registered mobile phone number and the registered electronic mail address of such registered attorney.

(5)

The Registrar shall file one copy of the memorandum substantially in the Form No. 16A furnished to him as part of the record of the case and keep and maintain the other copy by way of a separate ledger.”.

Read on from s 6