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srilawsby aturio
As enacted
Contents

Part VIII · General

24. Interpretation

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

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“appropriate authority” in relation to a specified country which is —

(a)

a Commonwealth country means the person, howsoever described, designated to receive and transmit requests for assistance in criminal matters, by or under any law of that country ;

(b)

a Non-Commonwealth country means the person, howsoever described, designated to receive and transmit requests for assistance in any agreement between Sri Lanka and such non-Commonwealth country for mutual assistance in criminal matters or in any law of such country giving effect to such agreement ;

“Commonwealth Country” means a country within the

Commonwealth, and includes a colony, territory, protectorate or other dependency of such country, or a ship or aircraft registered in such country ;

“criminal matter” means violations of any law, whether of Sri Lanka or of a specified country, and includes violations of the law of Sri Lanka or a specified country relating to taxation, exchange control or customs or securities or money laundering ;

“duly authenticated” in relation to a document, means a document authenticated as provided for in section 21 ;

“foreign law immunity certificate” means a certificate given or a declaration made, by the appropriate authority of a specified country or under the law of a specified country, certifying or declaring that, under the law of that specified country, persons generally or a specified person, could or could not, either generally or in specified proceedings or either generally or in specified circumstances, be required to answer a specified question, or to produce a specified document ;

“Non Commonwealth Country” means a country outside the Commonwealth and includes a colony, territory, protectorate or other dependency of such country, or a ship or aircraft registered in such country, and shall be deemed to include the Hong Kong Special

Administration Region of the Peoples Republic of

China ;

“serious offence” means of offence punishable with death or with imprisonment for a term not less than one year.

Schedules