• MP Wijedasa a notable absentee
• CWC MP absent due to COVID -19

The Government fell just short of a two third majority in Parliament when the vote on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill was taken yesterday with two SLPP MPs absent during the vote. 

MP Wijedasa Rajapaksha who is opposed to the Bill and appeared for one of the petitioners who challenged the Bill in the Supreme Court was absent during the vote. Nuwara-Eliya District SLPP/CWC MP Maruthapandi Rameshwaram too was absent as he tested positive for COVID-19.

Ven. Aturaliye Ratana Thera who entered Parliament as the MP of the Our People’s Party voted in favour of the Bill. 

Even though the SC ruled some clauses in Bill would require a 2/3rd majority, amendments moved during the Third Reading allowed it to be passed with a simple majority. 

Parliament passage for Port City