GL: Port City Bill can be passed with simple majority

… with amendments as per Supreme Court determination

By Saman Indrajith

Education Minister Prof GL Peiris told Parliament yesterday that Colombo the Port City Commission Bill could be passed with a simple majority.

“There is some misinformation circulating throughout the country regarding the Supreme Court determination on the Colombo Port City Commission Bill announced to this august assembly by the Speaker.

“It is claimed that the Supreme Court has said a two-thirds majority and people’s approval at a referendum are needed for the passage of this bill. This is baseless.

“The government, through the Attorney General’s Department, submitted to the Supreme Court a series of amendments. The Supreme Court accepted those amendments and this is clearly referred to in its determination read out to this House. On behalf of the government I said on Monday (17) that the government had accepted in its entirety the amendments recommended by the Supreme Court. So, on Thursday afternoon during the committee stage of the debate on the bill, the government would move those amendments and they would be included in the bill and with those amendments the bill can be passed in this parliament with a simple majority.”