Office For National Unity And Reconciliation Act

• Coming into Force: 23 January 2024,24 January 2024
• Year: 2024
• Act Number: 1
• Citation: No. 1 of 2024

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION, IN ORDER TO ENSURE AND PROMOTE NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION IN SRI LANKA; TO SET OUT THE POWERS, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS THEREOF AND TO PROVIDE FOR MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO.PreambleWHEREAS having regard to the need and importance of national unity and reconciliation in the socio-economic development process in Sri Lanka and the commitment and consensus for the achievement of the same;AND WHEREAS it has become a matter of national importance to establish an office for national unity and reconciliation in order to assure to every citizen equal opportunities in the economic, social, cultural and political spheres whilst safeguarding the identity and to build an inclusive society in which diversity will be respected and all communities will coexist in harmony and unity;NOW THEREFORE BE it enacted by the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as follows: -

Short title1. This Act may be cited as the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 1 of 2024.

Objects of the Act2. The objects of the Act shall be - (a) to promote and foster national unity, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among all persons in Sri Lanka;(b) to formulate and recommend to the Government, a national policy on reconciliation and coexistence;(c) to facilitate the implementation of policies and programmes in relation to national unity and reconciliation that would help to build understanding, harmony and unity among all communities;(d) to recommend to the Government, measures to be taken to resolve matters causing tensions and conflicts within and among the different communities;(e) to provide assistance to the stakeholders working on reconciliation and coexistence in order to achieve coherence in peace and national unity initiatives; and(f) to assist and facilitate the implementation of any recommendation made by any reconciliation endeavour established under any written law, or any policy of the Government, for the purpose of achieving national unity and reconciliation.

PART IESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE FOR NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION

Establishment of the Office for National Unity and Reconciliation3 (1) There shall be established an office which shall be called and known as the "Office for National Unity and Reconciliation" (hereinafter referred to as the "Reconciliation Office").(2) The Reconciliation Office shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.(3) The headquarters of the Reconciliation Office shall be situated in Colombo and the Reconciliation Office may, from time to time, establish such number of regional offices as may be necessary, to achieve its mandate.

Constitution of the Reconciliation Office4. (1) The Reconciliation Office shall consist of - (a) one ex-officio member appointed by the President, as nominated by the Minister, who shall be an officer not below the rank of an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of the Minister; and(b) ten other members appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister made in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) (hereinafter referred to as the "appointed members").(2) In making recommendations for the appointment of members referred to in paragraph (b) of subsection (1), the Minister shall have due regard to - (a) ensure that the composition of the Reconciliation Office reflects the pluralistic nature of the Sri Lankan society;(b) ensure that the persons recommended to be appointed as members of the Reconciliation Office shall be persons having eminence and experience in one or more of the fields of human rights law, international humanitarian law, reconciliation and social harmony, national unity, management, project planning and regional development; and(c) ensure that the persons recommended to be appointed as members of the Reconciliation Office are not subject to any disqualification specified in section 5.(3) The President may, on the recommendation of the Minister, appoint one member as the Chairperson of the Reconciliation Office.

Disqualification to be a member of the Reconciliation Office5. A person shall be disqualified from being appointed or continuing as a member of the Reconciliation Office, if such person - (a) is or become a Member of Parliament, of any Provincial Council or of any Local Authority;(b) is not, or ceases to be, a citizen of Sri Lanka;(c) has been or is adjudged an insolvent by a court of competent jurisdiction;(d) has been or is found to have a conflict of interest, which in the opinion of the President, formed on the recommendation of the Minister, conflicts with his duties as a member of the Reconciliation Office;(e) is or becomes unfit to continue in office by reason of illness or other infirmity of mind or body;(f) has been or is declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction;(g) has served or is serving or a sentence of imprisonment imposed by any court in Sri Lanka or any other country; or(h) absents himself from three consecutive meetings without previously obtaining leave from the Reconciliation Office.

Term of office of the appointed members6. (1) Every appointed member of the Reconciliation Office shall, unless such member vacates office earlier by death, resignation or removal, hold office for a term of three years from the date of the appointment and unless such member has been removed, shall be eligible for reappointment for not more than one further term, whether consecutive or otherwise.(2) For the purpose of this section, the period in which a member is appointed as an acting member shall not be considered as a ‘term’ of office within the meaning of this section.

Removal and resignation of appointed members7 (1) The office of an appointed member of the Reconciliation Office shall become vacant - (a) upon the death of such member;(b) upon such member resigning such office by writing addressed to the President;(c) upon such member being removed from office on any ground specified in section 5; or(d) on the expiration of such member’s term of office.(2) A member of the Reconciliation Office may be removed from office by the President, if such person becomes disqualified under section 5 to be a member of the Reconciliation Office.(3) The Chairperson may...