Bond and PRECIFAC debates advanced to 6 Feb.

• EC urges party leaders to bring forward debate date lest polls be postponed

 By Skandha Gunasekara

The parliamentary debate on the bond report and the reports of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate and inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges has been scheduled for 6 February. 

Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, who was present at yesterday’s party leaders meeting, said that Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya informed the leaders of political parties and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya that the date of 8 February, proposed by the Prime Minister, was too close to the upcoming Local Government polls.

“The Chairman of the Election Commission notified the party leaders and the Speaker that if the debate was held on 8 February, so close to the LG elections, it would set a bad precedent. He requested that the debate be rescheduled to a different date.”

Subsequently, Speaker Jayasuriya, while commending the Elections Commission for its efforts to conduct a free and fair election, suggested that the debate be held before 8 February so as not to affect the elections in any manner.  

“There was majority consensus among those gathered at the party leaders meeting that the debate should be held before 8 February,” the Deputy Speaker said. 

Elaborating further, Sumathipala said that the consensus of the party leaders was communicated to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who then recommended 6 February as the date for the debate.

“The Prime Minister officially communicated to the Speaker to convene Parliament on 6 February to debate the bond and PRECIFAC reports,” he said. 

Last week, following a challenge by President Maithripala Sirisena, the Prime Minister announced while addressing an election rally that he would be convening Parliament on 8 February to debate the bond report. 

However, soon after the Premier’s announcement, the Elections Commission Chairman asserted that he would have to postpone the LG elections if the debate was held on 8 February as it would infringe upon the ‘silent period’ of 48 hours running up to the poll date. 

Parliament will next meet at 10.30 a.m. on 6 February.