The Joint Opposition yesterday(18) handed over a letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya alleging that the Office of Missing Persons Bill was not passed in Parliament properly.
JO members led by Parliamentarian Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out that the Speaker should not place his signature to the act to make it law. According to Gunawardena, this Bill was passed in Parliament violating Parliamentary rules and regulations and we believe that the Speaker will look into this issue seriously.
Gunawardena said that the Speaker agreed to look into the issue and to seek the advice of the Attorney General if needed.
Doubt has arisen whether the Bill was actually passed in Parliament as there was a huge commotion when it was debated in Parliament,” Bandula Gunawardena said
This Bill was passed amidst huge opposition from 51 MPs of the Joint Opposition. We only requested for an extension of the debate pertaining to the Bill by two days, but, our request was not heeded,” he said.
Former External Affairs Minister Prof.G.L.Peiris said the Constitution clearly outlines conditions which are to be fulfilled when presenting, and adopting a Bill in Parliament.
“This Bill was passed in Parliament while there were about 30 amendments pertaining to the Bill,” Prof. Peiris said.
If the Speaker signs this Bill by any means, he will be listed as the first Speaker to contravene the Constitution and it would be a black mark to this superior post, Colombo District Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila said.
He added that the JO will not hesitate to bring the public to the streets in opposition if the Speaker places his signature on the Bill.
