The Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill was certified by the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on August, 23, 2021, the Secretary General of Parliament Dammika Dasanayake said on Friday.
The Bill was passed in Parliament without a vote on August 17.
The purpose of this Act is to make temporary provisions in relation to situations where persons were unable to perform certain actions required by law to be performed within the prescribed time periods due to Covid-19 circumstances, to assign alternative courts where a court cannot function due to Covid-19 circumstances and to conduct court proceedings using remote communication technology to facilitate the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
And it will also facilitate to grant relief in relation to parties to certain contracts who were unable to perform contractual obligations due to Covid-19 circumstances and for related incidental matters.
Accordingly, he said the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) (Temporary Provisions) Act No. 17 of 2021 came into force on the 23rd of this month.