sri lanka's commissions of inquiry - Law & Society Trust

TABLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT ON ASSASSINATION
OF S.W.R.D. BANDARANAIKE, 1965
CATEGORY OF REC RECOMMENDATION
Contempt We consider it necessary to bring to your Excellency’s notice a deficiency in the legal
provisions relevant to the Commissions of Inquiry appointed in terms of the Commissions
of Inquiry Act. Section 12 of that Act enumerates the acts and omissions which constitute
the offence of contempt against or in disrespect of the authority of the Commission.
Particularly in cases where judges are appointed Commissioners under this Act, we
thinks its necessary, in order to enable them to perform their functions efficiently and
with independence and so better secure the public interest, to extend the definition of
contempt against or in disrespect of the authority of the Commission to certain other
acts and omissions. It is hardly necessary for us here to attempt to indicate the limits of
the area of such extension. We may, however, take leave to point out that the legislature
appears to have contemplated in 1958 an amendment of the law somewhat along the lines
we have in mind. We gather that a Bill drafted about that time to amend the Commissions
of Inquiry Act was not proceeded with for reasons of which we are unaware. The efficient
performance of the work of the Commissions and the public interest alike demand the
supplying of the present deficiencies of the relevant law. 215
215.
Commission Report, 1965, p.5.
141