SLFP challenges UNP to pass controversial Development Bill

By Chamodi Gunawardana

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) yesterday claimed that the party would not allow the proposed Development (Special Provisions) Act to be tabled in Parliament. 

Openly challenging the United National Party (UNP) to obtain “at least a simple majority” in favour of the proposed Bill, the SLFP faction of the Coalition Government vowed to abort any attempt by the UNP to create a ‘Super Minister’ through the Act.

Addressing the SLFP weekly media briefing, party spokesman Minister Dilan Perera claimed that the Government would not even be able to gain the support of the Cabinet to pass the Act in the House nor would the Bill gain the support of Provincial Councillors. 

“Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama has said at a news conference that the Bill will be tabled in Parliament at the beginning of February but we will not allow them to take it into Parliament,” he said.



However, Perera said that the SLFP could adopt the proposed Act if it was going to be used to establish a “one-stop shop” to facilitate Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

“According to Samarawickrama, the Act will be used facilitate foreign investors and it will help to promote investments. However, the UNP-led Government can’t appoint a Minister with “all-inclusive powers” through the Act in the guise of supporting FDIs,” he said.

Perera highlighted that a special committee headed by SLFP Minister Sarath Amunugama appointed by the previous Government also recommended the establishment of a one-stop shop to facilitate international investors. 

“That committee recommended that a special one-stop shop should be created to support foreign investors to obtain necessary approvals under one roof. Unfortunately that recommendation did not materialise into an agency as proposed,” he said.

Perera added that the present Government could adopt the recommendation to form a one stop shop if the real purpose of the new Bill was to support international investors.

However, Perera reiterated that the SLFP was strongly opposed to any attempt by the UNP to pass the Development Act and would vote against it when it was tabled in Parliament.

The Minister accused the Government of using the proposed Bill as a diversionary tactic to take the heat away from the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Report on the Central Bank bond scam which is expected to be debated in January 2017. 

Western Province Chief Minister Isuru Devapriya too claimed that the majority of Chief Ministers would oppose the Government’s alleged attempt to create a ‘Super Minister’ through the Development (Special Provisions) Act.

He said that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had summoned all Provincial Councillors and Chief Ministers to meet at 4.00 p.m. today at Temple Trees to discuss the matter. 

“We will not be in favour of an Act which is proposed to curtail the powers of all Chief Ministers and local governments. If it is passed in Parliament then there is no point in having a President, Premier and Chief Ministers in the country,” he claimed.

Devapriya told Daily FT that Provincial Councillors were firm in their stand against the Bill despite attempts by the Prime Minister to reason with them on the matter.