Debate on Local Authorities Election (Special Provisions) Bill: Opposition agrees to take up the debate: Gayantha

• The Ruling party wants the second reading debate to be held this week

By Yohan Perera   

The opposition has agreed to take up the debate on proposed Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Bill on Monday February 17 in order to avoid a further delay in holding the local government election, Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka said yesterday.  

“However we opposed a move to go ahead with the debate soon after Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne reads out the Supreme Court determination on the Bill this week,” Karunathilaka told Daily mirror.   “The ruling party claimed that the holding of local government election cannot be delayed,” he added.  The ruling party last week assured that the local government election could be held on the April 24 2025 if the debate on the new Bill is concluded by February 17.   

The Speaker is expected to read the Supreme Court determination on Friday after which it will be taken up for discussion at the consultative committee on the same day. The debate on the Bill will take place after the budget on February 17 2025.