Parliament may lose finance rights - UNP

10 June 2011 06:44 am

By Yohan Perera

The UNP today warned the government of the possibility of the Parliament being stripped off its powers over state finance, considering the procedure which the government had followed with the regard to certain transactions.

UNP MP Dr. Harsha De Silva speaking at a news conference ttoday said that the goverment had failed to show the accounts of the sale of the 20 acre land at Galle Face Green which was sold to Shangri La and Catic to build a luxury hotel.

He alleged that the funds which the government received from the transaction, which he called an outright sale cannot be located in any of the state accounts. Dr. De Silva questioned as to whether these funds were spent out side the treasury.

Dr. De Silva charged that the article 148 of the Constitution had been violated by not obtaining the approval of the House and by not disclosing the amount of funds received though the transaction.

“This is a dangerous precedent as it may end up with Parliament being stripped off its powers over the state finance,” he said.