Criminal Trials (Special Provisions)

Criminal Trials (Special Provisions) AN ACT PROVIDE FOR MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH VERDICTS, REASONS THEREFOR AND SENTENCES RELATING TO TRIALS COMMENCED UNDER PROVISIONS OF LAW IN FORCE BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1974 AND JULY 2, 1979 AND FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO. BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:- Short title. 1. This Act may be cited as the Criminal Trials (Special Provisions) Act, No. 66 of 1979. Verdict or sentence deemed not to be invalid in certain criminal trials. 2. (1) Where, under the provisions of any law which was in force from January 1, 1974 to July 2, 1979, any verdict, reasons for the verdict or sentence, was or were required to be recorded within a period specified in such law, the failure to record such verdict, reasons or sentence within such period shall not be deemed to affect or to have affected the validity of such verdict, reasons or sentence unless such failure had occasioned a substantial miscarriage of justice. (2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall apply to all matters pending in any Court, in appeal or otherwise.