Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-12-05 (Subject to Confirmation at the next Meeting)

Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No.15 of 1979

- The Cabinet at its meeting held on 2021‑09‑27 has granted approval to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979 to make legal provisions enabling a criminal court to decide whether the requirement of personal attendance of suspect/accused persons in courts under certain identified circumstances could be dispensed with even during the trial. Several interested parties have submitted further matters for the Bill prepared accordingly, prior to the submission of the same to Parliament. As such, the proposal made by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a new Bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979 by further developing the Bill already drafted, taking also into consideration the aforesaid matters, was approved by the Cabinet.