Two COVID-19 related Bills to be taken up in Parliament

By Yohan Perera

Parliament is expected to take up two important debates this week which includes the supplementary Estimate of Rs 200 billion which is aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 pandemic and the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Temporary Provisions Bill which will provide legal redress to those who are affected by the pandemic.

Serjeant–at–arms Narendra Fernando told Daily Mirror that the leaders of political parties representing Parliament will meet up today to fix dates for this debate. “They will also decide as to whether the House sessions should be held four days or whether it will be confined to two days this week,” 
he added.

The government has mentioned that approval of the House is sought to spend Rs 200 billion for various programmes aimed at effective controlling the spread of the pandemic, the continuation of the vaccination programme to prevent people from contracting COVID 19.Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Temporary Provisions Bill is aimed at. The Bill which was presented to the House by Minister of Ali Sabry provides provisions for a person to enjoy relief who had signed a contract for a loan by a bank or a finance company licensed under the Finance Business Act no 42 of 2011, pertaining to a hire-purchase agreement for plant, machinery and commercial vehicle or lease agreement for machinery or commercial vehicle, an event contract, tourism-related contract, purchase of a house from a housing developer and an agreement for purchase and sale of a commercial property if a person is unable to honour the contracts if he or she is affected by the pandemic.