March 25, Colombo (LNW): In a significant development, the Justice Minister has issued an extraordinary gazette notification authorising the use of the English language for all record-keeping and proceedings within the Commercial High Courts.
This decision, which has received approval from the Cabinet of Ministers and is in line with Article 24(4) of the Constitution, was announced by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe through the gazette notification.
It grants permission for all legal matters, including those related to commerce, companies, admiralty, and arbitration, to be conducted in English within the Commercial High Court.
The decision was made in consideration of the predominant use of the English language in commercial activities and transactions, as noted by the Cabinet.
Recognising the significant costs and time associated with translating commercial content into Sinhala, this move aims to streamline proceedings and enhance efficiency within the Commercial High Courts.
