Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told Parliament yesterday that the Private Member’s Proposal presented to Parliament to amend the Pradeshiya Sabha, Urban and Municipal Councils Act was not proposed by the government. He said the government always respects the decision of the Supreme Court.
The Prime Minister said that he would protect the rights of MPs as seniors by allowing them to submit proposals, but said that MPs cannot do whatever they want.
The Prime Minister said this while replying to a question raised by the chief organizer of the Opposition when the Speaker presented the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the Private Member’s motions to Parliament.
The chief organizer of the Opposition asked whether the government is ready to hold a two-thirds vote and a referendum to pass these private members’ proposals, as indicated in the published Supreme Court decision.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also said:“The government was never the originator of this bill. So the government always respects the decision given by the Supreme Court. MPs can submit anything. The chief organizer of the Opposition knows what has been presented by our minister. So we can responsibly, as seniors, allow private MPs to act on their rights, but they cannot do whatever they want.”