Legal proceedings and maintaining records in certain courts to be in English

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs ad Constitutional Reforms to take necessary actions to issue an order by the subject Minister of Justice with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers and in par with the provisions of the statute 24 (4) of the Constitution permitting to use English language in relation to all the activities in recognized courts or legal records and proceedings precisely mentioned thereupon.

The cabinet was informed that particulars related to commercial activities are recorded in the English language and translating them into Sinhala language requires a considerable cost and time. As a result Sri Lanka’s position in the Ease of Doing Business ratings which envisage the ability of conducting enterprises in a country is at a low level.