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| PROMISSORY OATHS |
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AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A UNIFORM MODE OF OATHS TO BE TAKEN BY HOLDERS OF OFFICE.
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[16th October
, 1869 ]
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Short title.
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1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Promissory Oaths Ordinance.
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Forms of oath.
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2. The forms of oaths to be henceforward taken in Ceylon by holders of office shall be as follows, any custom, law, or enactment to the contrary notwithstanding:-
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do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ceylon, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God.
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do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ceylon, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of So help me God.
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I,do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Ceylon, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of , and I will do all right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of Ceylon, without fear or favour, affection, or ill-will. So help me God.* These Oaths are superseded by the Oaths provided for in the Fourth and Seventh Schedules to the Constitution.
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Oath to be taken by executive and judicial officers.
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3. All heads of departments other than judicial, and officers other than judicial, who are required to take oaths before assuming office shall take the oath of allegiance and official oath. All judicial officers shall take the oath of allegiance and judicial oath.
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Penalty for not taking required oaths.
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4. If any officer required to take the oaths above directed declines or neglects to do so, he shall, if he has already entered on his office, vacate the same, and, if he has not entered on the same, be disqualified from doing so ; but no person shall be compelled, in respect of the same appointment to the same office, to take such oaths more than once.
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Provision in favour of persons permitted to make affirmations.
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5. When an oath is required to be taken under this Ordinance, every person permitted by law to make an affirmation or declaration instead of taking an oath may, instead of taking such oath, make a solemn affirmation in the form of the oath hereby appointed, substituting the words ” solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm” for the word ” swear”, and omitting ” So help me God “.
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The name of the Sovereign for the time being to be used in oaths.
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6. When in any oath the name of Her present Majesty is expressed, the name of the Sovereign for the time being shall be substituted from time to time.* To be omitted when a statutory reprint of the legislative enactments is being done. This is consequential to the 1972 Constitution.
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Who may administer oaths.
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7. The oath of allegiance, official oath, and judicial oath may be administered by any person empowered by law to administer an oath.
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