Seventh Amendment to the 1978
Constitution
[Certified on 4th October, 1983]
An Act to Amend the Constitution of The Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Be it enacted by the Parliament of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as
follows:-
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Seventh Amendment to the
Constitution.
1. Article 5 of the Constitution of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (hereinafter
referred to as "the Constitution" ) is hereby amended
as follows:-
(a) by the substitution, for the
words " twenty-four", of the words " twenty-five";
and
(b) by the substitution, for the words " territorial
waters", of the following:-
"territorial waters:
Provided that such administrative districts may be
subdivided or amalgamated so as to constitute
different administrative districts, as Parliament may
by resolution determine.".
2. Articles 96 of the Constitution is
hereby amended in paragraph (1) of that Article, by the
substitution, for the words "twenty-four", of the words
"twenty-five".
3. The following Article is hereby inserted immediately
after Article 111, and shall have effect as Article
111A, of the Constitution:-
111A. (1) Where the Minister in
charge of the subject of Justice represents to the
President that it is expedient that the number of the
Judges exercising the jurisdiction and powers of the
High Court in any judicial zone should be temporarily
increased, the President may, by warrant, appoint one
or more commissioners of the High Court to exercise
the jurisdiction and powers of the High Court within
such judicial zone as specified in the warrant of
appointment of such Commissioner of the High
Court.
(2) Every Commissioner of the High Court appointed
under paragraph (1) shall hold office for the period
specified in his warrant of appointment and shall be
removable, and be subject to disciplinary control, by
the President, on the recommendation of the Judicial
Service Commission.
(3) Every Commissioner of the High Court appointed
under paragraph (1) may, during his tenure of office,
exercise, according to law, such jurisdiction and
powers as is, or are, vested or ordained in the High
Court by Parliament, and shall be invested with all
the rights, powers, privileges and immunities (except
such rights and privileges as relate to tenure of
office) of a Judge of the High Court, and for this
purpose, a reference to a "Judge of the High Court"
in the Constitution or other written law shall,
unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to
include a reference to a "Commissioner of the High
Court".".
4. The First Schedule to the
Constitution is hereby amended as follows:-
(a) by the insertion, immediately after item"10.
Jaffna" of that Schedule, of the following item:-
"11. Kilinochchi"; and
(b) by renumbering of items 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of that Schedule as items
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and
25 respectively, of that Schedule.
