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09 Nov 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa gave the go ahead for the debate on the controversial Revival of Underperforming and Underutilised Assets Bill in Parliament today despite objections by the opposition.

At the commencement of the day’s business, UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa was the first to raise objections to the bill citing it as unconstitutional and unethical. Mr. Premadasa argued that it should not be taken up for debate at all as a result. Followed by Mr. Premadasa, UNP MPs Palitha Range Bandara and Wijeyadasa Rajapakse extensively spoke of the dire consequences of the bill if passed in the House.

Mr. Rajapakse said that the bill had sought to acquire land properties in areas coming under the purview of the provincial councils, and therefore, Parliament should have consulted the respective provincial councils before presenting this bill. He also referred to the areas where the bill had impinged the constitutional rights of individuals.

Besides, JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that there were several fundamental rights applications filed in the Supreme Court, and therefore, Parliament could not debate matters being discussed in a court of law.

Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva, meanwhile, countered the arguments put forward by the opposition members and said that the Supreme Court had determined the bill as consistent with the Constitution. As a result, he said that there could not be any barrier for the House to debate the bill. Also, he highlighted that Supreme Court had the exclusive jurisdiction to give such determinations.

On behalf of the opposition, UNP MP Ajith Perera, Joseph Michael Perera, Dr. Harsha de Silva , Karu Jayasuriya and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran spoke against the bill being taken up in the House. They were countered by government members such as Ministers Susil Premajayantha, Dilan Perera and Deputy Minister Lalith Dissanayake.

Eventually, Speaker Rajapaksa suspended sittings at 3.10 pm for half an hour to weigh the pros and cons of arguments put forward by either side of the House. The House resumed business at 3.40 pm and the Speaker announced that he could not postpone the debate on the bill since the Cabinet had decided it as something urgently needed in the national interests of the country.

Also, he said that the Supreme Court had the exclusive right to determine whether any matter was constitutional or unconstitutional. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)

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Parliamentary proceeding continue

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