Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2018-03-06

Amendments to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No.34 of 2005

- The need for amending the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No.34 of 2005 introduced with a view to eliminating domestic violence has now arisen, when considering the problems observed during the implementation of the Act during the last 12 years. The Committee comprising of all stakeholders appointed to examine the matter after obtaining the views of the General Public as well, has submitted its recommendations for amending the Act.

Accordingly, proposed amendments include the increase of the categories of persons who can institute legal action on behalf of an adult person or children, subject to domestic violence, simplifying the process of filing an application, removing of the requirement of mandatory counseling in order to ensure the protection of an aggrieved party, amending the existing method of followup action, implementation of temporary protection orders effectively. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. (Mrs.) Chandrani Bandara, the Minister of Women and Child Affairs, to amend the prevention of Domestic Violence Act, No.34 of 2005 incorporating the said amendments, was approved by the Cabinet.