News
Sajith questions inclusion of two Bills on Order Paper before receiving AG’s recommendations
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday demanded to know why the government was planning to rush through Parliament the Social Security Contribution Levy (Amendment) Bill, and the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill without recommendations from the Attorney General.
Premadasa said that the two Bills had been listed on the Order Book and that has been done without the Attorney General’s recommendations. “This is a violation of due process. The Prime Minister himself has raised concerns about this at the Cabinet and parliamentary group meeting. This is wrong,” Premadasa said.
Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the clarifications from the Attorney General’s Department were due to be received within yesterday and he would make a statement on that when the House meets today.
Premadasa said that the Leader of the House himself had admitted that the two Bills had been included in the Order Paper without receiving AG’s recommendations. “This is illegal. You are yet to receive these recommendations. It is wrong to include them in the Order Paper without AG’s recommendations and clarifications. We are against these two Bills.”
SLPP Kurunegala District dissident MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said that the matter raised by the Opposition Leader was a serious issue. “It is because you have entertained Bills similar to this, you’re facing a no confidence motion today,” Jayasekera told the Speaker. “This, too, will be added to your burden. The government brings in Bills as they wish and when questioned they promise to get the approval of the AG later on. Is this the way we pass laws here?” Jayasekera queried.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya met with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, at Temple Tress on the 17th of February
Dr. Georgieva, commended the Government’s efforts in stabilizing the country’s economy and in managing recent economic and natural shocks. She noted that Cyclone Ditwah had caused severe impacts, especially on economically vulnerable communities, underscoring the importance of targeted support and resilience-building measures.
The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the IMF’s continued support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. The PM further emphasized that real economic recovery and development must directly benefit the economically vulnerable groups and ensure inclusive growth, highlighting the need for Sri Lanka to attract quality and sustainable investments, particularly in the tourism sector.
The importance of reforming the education system to focus not only on knowledge acquisition but also on skills development and employability was also discussed
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff of the IMF Managing Director Andreas Bauer, Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Dr. Krishna Srinivasan Division Chief (Strategic Communications), Communications Department, Pierre Mejlak Resident Representative for Sri Lanka Dr. Martha Woldemichael, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, and Deputy Governor Dr. C. Amarasekara, Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
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