CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA 
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Govt. thwarts Rosy’s move to get more women
The government today thwarted an attempt by UNP MP Rosy Senanayake to present a private member’s bill seeking to reserve 30 percent of slots for female candidates at local government elections.When Ms. Senanayake was about to present the bill, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardane said a private member’s bill should be presented only after observations by the Attorney General. He said the procedure to be followed had been laid down in the Standing Orders governing parliamentary affairs.
However, JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said JHU MP Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thera also presented a similar bill without following that procedure recently.
“Ven. Ratana Thera presented a bill seeking to amend the Constitution. At that moment, no such objection was raised. I want to know why a different system is applied when opposition MPs try to introduce private members’ bills,” he said.
Mr. Gunawardane said he had no issue with the content of Ms. Senanayake’s bill.
“I only stressed that the due procedure should be followed. If MP Dissanayake has any query, it should be directed at the chair,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said the presentation of the new bill would be referred to the next parliamentary week since there was objection raised this time. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)
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