• Bill to amend Constitution slated to be passed late Thursday at end of two-day debate
• Speaker to announce SC determination on Bill to House on Tuesday
• Bill needs two-thirds majority in 225-Member Legislature

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution Bill will be taken up for debate in Parliament on 21 and 22 October, party leaders decided yesterday.

The debate will be held from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on both days, the Committee on Parliamentary Business decided. 

The Committee is chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

A vote on the Bill will be taken at the end of the debate with several amendments to be introduced at the committee stage debate of the Bill.

The Government needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament, including those MPs who are not present to get the Bill passed.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court determination on the Bill will be announced by the Speaker on Tuesday.

Along with the Speaker, others present at yesterday’s meeting include Deputy Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Prof. G.L. Peiris, Douglas Devananda, Dullas Alahapperuma, Mahinda Amaraweera, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prasanna Ranatunga, Ali Sabry, and MPs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Gayantha Karunatilake, Rauff Hakeem, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Dilan Perera, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan and senior Parliamentary officials.

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