Speaker names Members to serve in the Legislative Standing Committees

Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella questioned in Parliament on Saturday the real motive of bringing in new election laws at a time when the elections have been put off indefinitely in the country.

He raised this question soon after Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced to the House names of co-opted members for the consideration of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) and Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bills.

Speaker Abeywardena announced that he had nominated the following Co-opted Members to serve in the Legislative Standing Committee for the consideration of the Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Bill:  Prasanna Ranatunga, Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi, Kanchana Wijesekera, Anuradha Jayaratne, Chandima Weerakkody, Namal Rajapaksa, Mayantha Dissanayake, and Rohini Kumari Wijeratna.

Speaker also announced that in terms of Standing Order No. 113(2), he has nominated the following MPs as the Co-opted Members to serve in the Legislative Standing Committee for consideration of the bill titled Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Bill: Susil Premajayantha, Janaka Wakkumbura, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Eran Wickramaratne, Isuru Dodangoda, M. W. D. Sahan Pradeep Withana and D. Weerasingha.

Raising a point of order Kiriella asked the purpose of these committees to bring new election laws. “Local government election was to be held on March 08, this year. That election has not yet been held. Whom are you going to hoodwink by this? What is the purpose of these committees when there are no elections,” Kriella queried.