Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-07-05

Amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, No. 15 of 1979 (Rights of Detainees - Access to Legal Counsel)

- The proposal made by Hon. (Dr.) Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, the Minister of Justice, to publish the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill prepared to provide for the acceptance of the right to retain and consult an Attorney-at-law of his choice at his own expenses by any person who has been arrested and detained in police custody, after recording his statements and prior to being produced before a Magistrate and provision of services of an Attorney-at-law of the Legal Aid Commission, to such person, in an instance where such person states that he is unable to retain and consult an Attorney-at-law at his own expense, in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same in Parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet.