INDEMNITY LAW FOR SECURITY FORCE PERSONNEL [INDEMNITY]
PARLIAMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA

THE INDEMNITY ACT, 1982 (Act No. 20 of 1982) (Certified on 20th May, 1982)

AN ACT TO RESTRICT THE TAKING OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST CERTAIN PERSONS IN RESPECT OF CERTAIN ACTS AND MATTERS DONE OR PURPORTED TO BE DONE WITH A VIEW TO RESTORING LAW AND ORDER DURING THE PERIOD AUGUST 1, 1977, TO [THE RELEVANT DATE]* CONSEQUENT UPON THE EXISTENCE OF WIDESPREAD DISORDER AND LAWLESSNESS IN THE COUNTRY.

Be it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as the Indemnity Act, No. 20 of 1982.

2. No action or other legal proceeding whatsoever, whether civil or criminal, shall be instituted in any court of law for or on account of or in respect of any act, matter or thing, whether legal or otherwise, done or purported to be done with a view to restoring law and order during the period August 1, 1977 to [the relevant date], if done in good faith, by a Minister, Deputy Minister or person holding office under or employed in any capacity whether naval, military, air force, police or civil, or by any person acting in good faith under the authority of a direction of a Minister, Deputy Minister or person holding office or so employed and done or purported to be done in the execution of his duty or for the enforcement of law and order or for the public safety or otherwise in the public interest and if any such action or legal proceeding has been instituted in any court of law whether before or after the date of commencement of this Act every such action or legal proceeding shall be deemed to be discharged and made null and void.