Opp. alleges bid to put off LG polls

SC determines Election Expenditure Bill consistent with Constitution

By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced, yesterday, that the Supreme Court had determined that the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was consistent with the Constitution and it could be passed with a simple majority in Parliament.

Opposition parties said that the passage of the Bill would have a detrimental effect on the Local Government elections.

Chief Opposition Whip, Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, said that two different bills under the same titled Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill were listed in the Order Paper to be taken up for the debate on Thursday. The government could put it off without creating discrepancy between the proposed regulations, and the existing laws, pertaining to local government elections, because the nomination process was currently underway. “JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and I, at the last party leaders’ meeting, requested the government to withdraw these bills. It seems that the government is trying to mess up the elections to be held to local councils. The Leader of the House then agreed to incorporate a clause to the Bill, at the consultative committee stage, that the aforementioned bills would have no effect on the upcoming elections. This interim clause should be inserted to the draft bill by next Thursday.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the passing of the Bill would have no adverse effect on the ongoing election process.

The Bill had been submitted for the approval of the House to bring accountability and responsibility to campaign spending, the President said.

“There had been a request to present and pass this Bill without causing any effect for the election for which the nominations have been called. We can pass this bill within the week. There is a request to do this to prevent fraudulent actions pertaining to election expenses. When the Bill is submitted it is also opposed. I am accused of protecting the thieves. When I try to bring laws to catch the thieves, that, too, is opposed,” the President said.

The Committee on Parliamentary Business is scheduled to meet today (18) and if the committee decides, the second reading debate on the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill could be taken, on Jan. 19, from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm.