Provincial Appeal courts soon

The 18th amendment to the Constitution will be moved in Parliament on Tuesday to establish provincial Appeal courts to rid the backlog of cases before the Court of Appeal.

Under the proposed amendment, provincial courts would be set up in the Southern, Uva, Central, Wayamba, North Central, North and East and the Western provinces.

The amendment will need two- thirds majority in the House for approval to set up these courts.

The bill was introduced during the tenure of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Once approved by parliament, the number of Appeal Court judges would be increased from 11 to 21. The Bill was delayed due to the non-co-operation of the opposition during the previous regime.