Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara has issued a statement clarifying that the proposed amendment to the Penal Code (Section 19) concerning corporal punishment of children has not been enacted into law.
The Minister said that while Parliament held a second reading debate on the Penal Code Amendment Bill on September 24, it was only a discussion and not a passage into law.
He further noted that in order for such an amendment to take effect, a corresponding change would also have to be made to the Code of Criminal Procedure. Since that has not yet been done, the Bill remains pending.
Nanayakkara added that changes to the Bill could still be taken up during the committee stage in Parliament where amendments can be brought forward.
The Minister reiterated that the amendment regarding corporal punishment remains at the debate stage and has not been passed as legislation.
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