Private members’ bills of 40 MPs on hold

Leader of the House and Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that private members’ bills of some 40 MPs have been blocked due to Standing Orders in Parliament being amended by the previous Yahapalana government.

This has obstructed the MPs’ privileges which they had enjoyed since 1948 to incorporate religious, welfare and professional organisations as a private act, according to the Standing Orders of the Parliament.

Members of Parliament have also complained to the Speaker that the previous government had changed the Standing Orders in 2018  thereby violating their privileges.

Minister Gunawardena, said that steps are being taken to revert the Standing Orders changed by the previous Government to their previous status by drawing the attention of Parliament in this regard. 

Minister Gunawardena points out that some of these bills have not been presented to the Standing Orders Committee for more than four years.