Speaker certifies Youthful Offenders, Penal Code (Amendment) bills

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has endorsed the certificate on the Youthful Offenders (Training schools) (Amendment)bill and the Penal Code (Amendment) bill, Communications Department of Parliament said.

The two Bills were taken up for debate in Parliament on October 21.

The Youthful Offenders (Training Schools) (Amendment) Bill aims at amending the age limit previously established as below 18 to age between 18-22. The Bill also
amends for the purpose of being gender neutral.

The amendment to the Penal Code establishes provisions to replace the verdict of death sentence being given to minors replacing it with custodial sentences.

Accordingly, the Youthful Offenders (Training Schools) (Amendment) Act No. 24 of 2021 and the Penal Code (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2021 came into effect from October 26. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)