18. Amendment of section 161 of the principal enactment

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

Section 161 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows:-

(1)

in subsection (1) thereof –

(a)

by the repeal of sub-paragraphs (iii), (iv) and (v) of paragraph (a) thereof and the substitution therefor of the following sub-paragraphs:-

“(iii)

in any case where the person to whom injury has been caused so requests, or if he is unconscious or if the injury caused to that person appears to endanger his life, take that person immediately to a hospital or to a medical practitioner, and thereafter report the accident forthwith to the officer in charge of the nearest police station;

(iv)

in every case not referred to in sub paragraph (iii), report the accident

“Speed limits.

forthwith to the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station as specified in the Form prescribed in subsection (4); and

(v)

a driver who fails to report such accident forthwith to the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station as specified in the Form prescribed in subsection (4) shall on conviction be liable to a fine not less than three thousand rupees and not exceeding five thousand rupees.”;

(b)

by the repeal of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (c) thereof and the substitution therefor of the following sub-paragraph:-

“(ii)

within twenty four hours of the accident communicate, his name and address and the fact that he was in the vehicle at the time of the accident, to the officer in charge of a police station as specified in the

Form prescribed in subsection (4).”;

(c)

by the repeal of paragraph (d) thereof and the substitution therefor of the following paragraph:-

“(d)

the insurer to whom a claim for insurance is made in connection with such accident shall –

(i)

inform the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station of such accident, for the purpose of compiling statistical records relating to accidents giving details of such accident and the names and addresses of the parties involved in such accident as informed to him by the person making the claim;

(ii)

not settle any claim until a copy of the Form referred to in subsection (4), certified by the police officer of the nearest police station has been furnished;”;

(2)

by the insertion, immediately after subsection (3)

thereof, of the following subsection which shall have effect as subsection (4) thereof:-

“(4) The Minister may make regulations –

(a)

specifying the procedure to be followed when reporting an accident to the nearest police station;

(b)

specifying the Form to report the accident; and

(c)

specifying any other information as may be necessary, in connection with this section.”.

Read on from s 19