17. Amendment of section 26 of the principal enactment

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

Section 26 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows:-

(1)

by the insertion immediately after the definition of term of expression “addressee”, of the following new definition:-

““automated message system” means a computer program or an electronic or other automated means used to initiate an action or respond to data messages or performances in whole or in part, without review or intervention by a natural person each time an action is initiated or a response is generated by the system;”;

(2)

by the insertion immediately after the definition of term of expression “computer”, of the following new definition:-

““Convention” means the United Nations

Convention on the Use of Electronic

Communications in International Contracts ratified by Sri Lanka on July 7, 2015 subject to the declaration made at the time of ratification;”;

(3)

by the insertion immediately after the definition of term of expression “electronic”, of the following new definitions:-

““electronic address” means a communication network or an electronic mailbox, telecopy devise or a designated portion or location in an information system that a person uses to receive a data message, electronic document, electronic record or any communication;

“electronic communication” means any communication made by means of data message;”;

(4)

by the repeal of the definition of term of expression

“electronic signature” and the substitution therefor, of the following definition:-

““electronic signature” means data in electronic form, affixed to logically associated with a data message, electronic document, electronic record or communication which may be used to identify the signatory in relation to the data message, electronic document, electronic record or communication and to indicate the signatory’s intention in respect of the information contained therein;”;

(5)

by the insertion immediately after the definition of term of expression “intermediary”, of the following new definition:-

““Minister” means the Minister to whom the implementation of the provisions of

Electronic Transactions Act, No. 19 of 2006

is assigned;”;

(6)

by the repeal of the definition of term of expression

“originator” and the substitution therefor, of the following definitions:-

““originator” of an electronic communication means a person by whom, or on whose behalf, the electronic communication has been sent or generated prior to storage, if any, but it does not include a person acting as an intermediary with respect to that electronic communication;

“prescribe” means prescribe by regulations made under this Act;”; and

(7)

by the substitution, in the definition of the term of expression “security procedure”, for the words

“a certificate issued” of the words “a license or an authorization issued”.

Read on from s 18