9. Section 26 of the principal enactment is hereby amended as follows :
| (i) by the repeal of subsection (1) thereof and the substitution therefor of the following subsection:
| | '(1) There shall be for every judicial district an officer who shall be called the " Family Counselor".'; | | |
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| (ii) by the repeal of subsection (5) thereof; |
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| (iii) by the renumbering of subsections (2), (3) and (4) thereof as subsections (3), (4) and (5) of that section; and |
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| (iv) by the insertion immediately after subsection (1) thereof, of the following subsection:
| | "(2) Where a dispute in any action in respect of any matter within the jurisdiction of a Family Court, or any application for maintenance, comes up for inquiry or trial before a District Judge and Judge of the Family Court or Magistrate, as the case may be, such District Judge and Judge of the Family Court or Magistrate shall, unless any party to the action expresses in writing a desire to the contrary, refer such dispute to a Family Counselor, who
| | | (a) shall make every effort to induce the parties to settle such dispute; and |
| (b) shall submit his report thereon to the District Judge and Judge of the Family Court or Magistrate, as the case may be, within such time as may be specified by such District Judge and Judge of the Family Court or Magistrate ". |
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Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts