JO submits 6-page letter to Speaker on OMP Bill

Joint Opposition members yesterday handed over a six-page letter to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya demanding the rejection of the Office for Missing Persons (OMP) Bill due to the alleged violation of Standing Orders in passing it, MP Bandula Gunawardena said.

In the letter the Joint Opposition (JO) claimed the OPM bill was passed by breaching Parliamentary procedures, Standing Orders and the Constitution despite the JO being present within the chamber when it was passed and being given time to participate in the debate. 

They further allege the OMP Bill is inconsistent with Article 78(2) of the Constitution, which requires ‘the passing of a bill or resolution by the Parliament shall be in accordance with the Constitution and Standing Orders of the Parliament’.

They also claimed the Cabinet Minister had not given approval to the OMP Bill and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe when presenting the same to the Parliament on 22 June did not signify that Cabinet had approved the Bill.

The Joint Opposition added according to Article 152 of the Constitution such a Bill should obtain the approval of Cabinet prior to being introduced to Parliament.

They are hopeful Speaker Jayasuriya will take the necessary step to correct the errors of the passing of the bill, Gunawardena added. (CG)