No parliamentary debate on bond report today

• JO, JVP demand report be tabled despite Government excuses
• JVP requests other Presidential Commission reports be tabled as well
• Party leaders’ meeting in Parliament to decide bond report debate date and time 

By Skandha Gunasekara

A decision was reached at yesterday’s party leaders’ meeting that the bond report would not be debated in Parliament today, despite the calls of Opposition parties for a debate. 

Leader of the Joint Opposition in Parliament, MP Dinesh Gunawardena, told the Daily FT that following repeated requests from the Opposition, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had agreed to have the bond report tabled in the House during today’s special session of Parliament. 

“The request of the Joint Opposition and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was that they table the report in Parliament. They gave various excuses as to why they cannot do so such as the fact that it was only available in the English language, but finally the Speaker decided to obtain the report from the President’s office and table it in the House,” MP Gunawardena said. 

In addition, Gunawardena said that the JVP had requested that reports of other presidential commissions that have been released, such as those of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources and Privileges (PRECIFAC) also be tabled in the House today. 

“However, as they are all Presidential Commission reports, the Speaker can only make a request that these other reports be tabled so it is not certain if they would be tabled but the bond report will definitely be tabled in Parliament,”

Furthermore, MP Gunawardena disclosed that party leaders had decided that soon after tabling the report, another party leaders’ meeting will be held in Parliament to discuss the agenda of the House.

“A party leaders’ meeting had been called for after the bond report is tabled. The dates and times to debate the bond report will be decided at the party leaders’ meeting. We will also decide if Parliament will continue for the rest of the week of it will adjourn and recommence on a later date,” he added.