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Legal
Aid Services to Poor Women Project |National
Integration Programme Project| |
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LEGAL AND JUDICIAL REFORMS
PROJECT |
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The project is implemented by a Project Implementation and Co-ordination Unit (PICU) under the guidance of a Steering Committee chaired by Hon. S.N. Silva, Chief Justice. The
members of the Steering Committee
are the following –Hon.
Sarath Silva, Chief Justice |
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Reforms to the following laws have been proposed by special Committees that were appointed to study areas relating to commercial issues, i.e. Partnership Law, Misrepresentation, Sale of Goods, Frustrated Contracts and Product Liability. The proposals have been approved by the Law Commission and steps are being taken to prepare the necessary legislation and to present same in Parliament. The following two Committees are also being appointed – a) To examine and recommend reform to reduce delays in commercial litigation. b)
To examine the adequacy of the available provision relating to exit
of failed companies and to recommend reform if necessary. Professional DevelopmentProfessional development activities are continuing with local and overseas training for lawyers of both the official and unofficial bar and law teachers. Other significant steps towards professional development have been curricula development in the law schools, library development in the law schools, the Attorney-General’s Department and the Bar Associations and the provision of computers to law schools. Access
to law is conducted through the Project website – LAWNET – presently
containing legislative enactments and law reports and being developed to provide other information including
commercial law publications. AUTOMATION OF THE COMPANY REGISTRAR’S OFFICE This
activity seeks to streamline its operations, reduce delays and upgrade its
services. Tasks such as the registering of a new company will be
simplified. Through the setting up of a web page clients throughout the
world will be able to electronically access the services of the Company
Registrar’s Office. JUDICIAL REFORMAmong
the activities of this component are
the development of training
programmes for judicial officers with special focus on commercial law,
court staff training and the establishment
of a Law and Justice Centre to
provide for training
facilities. Judicial
Service Commission
(administrative reforms) The objective of this activity is to divert commercial disputes for settlement outside the court process which is both costly and dilatory, thereby in some instances having a negative impact on the economic development of the country. Under this component several activities have already been completed. A Commercial Mediation Centre has been established . The Centre has set up its mediation panels and formulated its procedural rules. Mediator training programmes are continuing. The main concern, however is the low rate of referral of commercial disputes for settlement by mediation. The Commercial Mediation Centre is presently engaged in an intensive publicity campaign to attract more referrals to the Centre for resolution by mediation. |
