Port City Economic Commission Bill debate next week

• Debate fixed for 19-20 May
• Speaker to announce SC determination on Bill on Tuesday

The Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill will be taken up for debate in Parliament next week.

The debate on the Bill will take place on 19 and 20 May, party leaders who met yesterday decided.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena will announce the Supreme Court›s determination on the Bill on 18 May.

Several petitions were filed in the SC challenging the Bill on grounds that some of its clauses were inconsistent with the Constitution.

The Bill provides for the establishment of a Commission empowered to grant registrations, licenses, authorisations, and other approvals to carry on businesses and other activities in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be established within the Colombo Port City.

A high-powered five-member Commission to administer the Port City will be set up after the Bill is approved by Parliament.