20. Enforcement of the provisions of this Act

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

(1)

Without prejudice to any judicial or other remedy provided for by or under any written law, any person with a legitimate interest shall be entitled to apply by way of petition addressed to the High Court seeking the enforcement of sections 7, 14, 15, 16 or 19 of this Act and to plead for such relief or redress as shall be prayed for in such petition.

(2)

The jurisdiction of the High Court may be invoked under subsection (1) of this section by any person with a legitimate interest, by himself or through any other person on his behalf, within three months of the date on which the non-enforcement of sections 7, 14, 15, 16 or 19 of this Act becomes known to such person, as the case may be.

(3)

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other law, the High Court may, where it considers it appropriate at any stage of the proceeding relating to a petition made to it under subsection (1) of this section, refer such matter to the

Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka for an inquiry and report and request such Commission to submit its report to the High Court within such time as shall be stipulated by the

Court for that purpose.

(4)

The High Court shall have the power to grant the relief prayed for in a petition made to it under subsection (1)

or grant such other relief or make such direction as it may consider just and equitable, in the circumstances of the case.

(5)

Any person aggrieved by an order made by the High

Court in any petition filed under this section, shall have a

International Convention for the Protection of

All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

Act, No. 5 of 2018

right of appeal to the Supreme Court against such order within six weeks of the date on which such order is made.

Read on from s 21