19 March 2020 – Courts suspend hearings except for urgent and necessary cases

Type of Intervention: Judiciary
Sectors Involved: Corrections / Justice
Intervention Categories: Social and physical distancing measures; Gatherings, businesses, and services; Legal and policy; Regulatory change
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: Judicial Services Commission

Overview: The Judicial Service Commission has issued a special circular on 19th describing criterion for court proceedings for a week from 20th , focusing cases to be called in Commercial High Courts, High Courts, Civil Appellate Courts, District Courts, Magistrates Courts and Labour Tribunals from 19th to 27th, in this month. No case shall be heard in open court except for cases which are decided by the judge as urgent and necessary.
Full details here: https://www.presidentsoffice.gov.lk/index.php/2020/03/19/special-circular-on-court-proceedings/?lang=en

Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group
Source of Evidence or Justification: http://www.jsc.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1&lang=en
Evidence/Justification: The Judicial Services Commission has probable been advised. It is technically an independent organization