As enacted

Contents

13. Insertion of new sections 17A and 17B in the principal enactment

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

The following new sections are hereby inserted immediately after section 17 of the principal enactment and shall have effect as sections 17A and 17B of that enactment:-

17A. (1) A licence issued under section 17

may be revoked by the Minister assigning reasons therefor, on the breach of terms and conditions of the licence.

(2)

The Minister shall by Order published in the Gazette specify the date of such revocation (not being a date earlier than thirty days from the date of publication of the Order)

“Revocation of a licence issued under section 17

Act, No. 39 of 2024

and the reasons for the revocation shall be informed to the relevant operator through the

Commission fifteen days prior to the date of the revocation.

(3)

The Order referred to in subsection (2)

shall also specify the interim arrangement made for operating the telecommunication system in respect of which the licence was issued to the operator thereof has been revoked under this section.

(4)

Where the Minister revokes a licence under section 17, the licensee may within a period of thirty days from the date of the communication to him the decision of the

Minister appeal against such revocation to the

Court of Appeal which may confirm or set aside the decision of the Minister.

17B.

certain

(1)

A person shall not engage in the following activities except under the authority of a licence issued by the Commission in that behalf:-

licence

(a)

providing infrastructure services specified by rules, required for operating a telecommunication system;

(b)

providing telecommunication services specified by rules; or

(c)

providing cable landing station facilities.

Prohibition to engage in activities without a

Act, No. 39 of 2024

(2)

For the purpose of paragraph (c) of subsection (1), the facilities shall include submarine cables laid within the territorial waters of Sri Lanka.

(3)

The charges for cable landing station facilities including access to the submarine cables shall be approved or determined by the

Commission.

(4)

A licence issued under subsection (1)

shall be-

(a)

in such form and on payment of such fee as may be determined by the

Commission; and

(b)

required to conform to such technical standards as may be determined by the Commission from time to time by rules made under this

Act.

(5)

Any person who engages in any activity specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) without obtaining a licence under subsection (1), commits an offence under this

Act.

(6)

The Commission may, at any time revoke a licence granted under this section on the failure by the licensee to comply with the technical standards he was required to conform to.

Act, No. 39 of 2024

(7)

Where the Commission refuses an application for a licence under subsection (1)

or revokes a licence under subsection (6), the applicant or the licensee, as the case may be, within a period of thirty days from the date of the communication to him the decision of the

Commission may appeal against such refusal or revocation, as the case may be, to the Court of Appeal which may confirm or set aside the decision of the Commission.

(8)

Rules shall be made under this Act to specify-

(a)

the manner of making an application for a licence under subsection (1);

(b)

requirements to be fulfilled by an applicant to make an application for each category of licence under subsection (1); and

(c)

period of validity and the manner of renewal of a licence.”.

Read on from s 14