by Saman Indrajith

Local Government Elections (Amendment) bill was passed in Parliament yesterday with 120 voting for it none against and 44 abstaining.

MPs of the Joint Opposition abstained from voting while the JVP and TNA MPs voted with the government. Sixty MPs were not present in the chamber at the time of vote.

Before the final vote was taken for the bill, a vote was taken on an amendment presented by MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena seeking permission for government officers to contest elections. In that vote, Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne abstained from voting while his erstwhile colleagues in the Joint Opposition voted for the amendment. The government voted against it.

The result of the vote for the amendment was 120 for, 44 against and one abstention.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Mustapha said the government officers had been defined in the draft as field officers such as Samurdhi officials, Grama Niladhari officials and Development officials. The government would not agree to the amendment forwarded by MP Gunawardena, he said.

NFF Leader Wimal Weerawansa called for a division on the amendment presented by MP Gunawardena.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had to suspend sittings in response to a request made by Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella. The minister called for the suspension to hold a meeting of party leaders as Joint Opposition MPs demanded that their amendment be included. When the House resumed sittings Minister Mustapha presented amendments to the draft bill.

Courtesy:The Island