3. Certain acts deemed to be contempt of a court, tribunal or institution

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

(1)

Save as provided for in any other written law and subject to the provisions of the Constitution, any person who commits an act or omission with intent to-

(a)

bring the authority of a court, tribunal or institution and administration of justice into disrespect or disregard; or

(b)

interfere with, or cause grave prejudice to the judicial process in relation to any ongoing litigation, commits contempt of a court, tribunal or institution, as the case may be.

(2)

Save as provided for in any other written law and subject to the provisions of the Constitution, any person who does any of the following acts commits contempt of a court, tribunal or institution, as the case may be-

(a)

willful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court, tribunal or institution;

(b)

willful breach of an undertaking given to a court, tribunal or institution;

(c)

expressing, pronouncing or publishing any matter that is false which, or doing any other act which-

(i)

scandalizes or lowers the judicial authority or dignity of a court, tribunal or institution;

(ii)

gravely prejudices, or unlawfully interferes with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or

(iii)

interferes with, or obstructs the administration of justice;

(d)

(i)

use of any electronic device or other instrument for audio or visual recording or both, in a court, tribunal or institution, or bringing into a court, tribunal or institution any such device or instrument for the purpose of audio or visual recording or both, without the leave of the court, tribunal or institution already obtained;

(ii)

publication or transmission of an audio or a visual recording or both, of a proceeding or part of a proceeding of a court, tribunal or institution made by means of any electronic device or other instrument, or any such recording derived directly or indirectly from such device or instrument without the leave of the court, tribunal or institution already obtained;

(iii)

use of any electronic device or other instrument, or publication or transmission of an audio or a visual recording or both, of a proceeding of a court, tribunal or institution, in contravention of any leave granted under sub-paragraph (i) or sub-paragraph (ii); or

(iv)

tampering, altering or falsifying any audio or visual recording or both, of a proceeding of a court, tribunal or institution; or

(e)

scandalizing a court, tribunal or institution, or a judge or judicial officer with intent to-

(i)

interfere with the due administration of justice;

(ii)

excite dissatisfaction in the minds of the public in regard to a court, tribunal or institution; or

(iii)

cast public suspicion on the administration of justice.

Read on from s 4