WijeYAdasa misses presenting Tobacco Bill

By Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera
UNP MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe missed the opportunity to move his Bill that, if enacted, would provide for covering 80 per cent of packages of tobacco products with pictorial health warnings.

The MP was to move his private member's Bill as an amendment to the original Act dealing with tobacco products. When Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody called his name to move his Bill for the second reading debate, he was not present. However, he arrived in the House later after his name was called. Then, Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga sought permission from the chair to present the Bill. However, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane said the House had moved on to other subjects on the Order Paper, and therefore, it could not be reversed. He said the UNP could raise it later on another day.