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.