Sri Lanka Republic Act 1972

1 Operation of existing law.

(1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, all law to which this subsection applies, whether being a rule of law or a provision of an Act of Parliament or of any other enactment or instrument whatsoever, which was in force on 22nd May 1972 or, having been passed or made before that date, comes or has come into force thereafter, shall, unless and until provision to the contrary is made by Parliament or some other authority having power in that behalf, have the same operation in relation to Sri Lanka, and persons and things belonging to or connected with Sri Lanka, as it would have apart from this subsection if on that date Ceylon had been renamed Sri Lanka but there had been no change in its status.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies to law of, or of any part of, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and in relation only to any enactment of the Parliament of the United Kingdom or any Order in Council made by virtue of any such enactment whereby any such enactment applies in relation to Ceylon, to law of any other country or territory to which that enactment or Order extends.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the provisions set out in Appendix C to Schedule 1 to the [1971 c. 77.] Immigration Act 1971 (whereby a person becoming a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by registration may in certain circumstances be required to take an oath of allegiance) shall, when those provisions are brought into operation under section 35(1) of that Act, have effect in relation to citizens of Sri Lanka as if subsection (1) of this section had not been enacted.

(4) Where in any enactment of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed before this Act, or in any Order in Council or other instrument made by virtue of any such enactment before the passing of this Act, reference is made to Ceylon by that name, the name " Sri Lanka " shall be substituted for that name for the purposes of the operation of that enactment, Order in Council or instrument in relation to any time on or after 22nd May 1972.

(5) In accordance with section 3(3) of the [1967 c. 4.] West Indies Act 1967, it is hereby declared that this section, in so far as it amends the law relating to nationality or citizenship, extends to all associated states.

(6) This section shall be deemed to have had effect from 22nd May 1972.