• Urge Govt. not to rush Bill through House
• Say more public discussion needed on Bill

Prominent members of the Buddhist and Christian clergy yesterday called for the Government to defer the vote on the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill without rushing it through Parliament.

Venerable Elle Gunawansa Thero and Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith yesterday addressed a joint press briefing where they voiced concern over moves to get parliamentary approval for the Bill.

“The Government says it will move 25 amendments to the Bill but how can this be done in such a hurry. There should be provisions in the law to prevent dual citizens being named as members of the commission,” Gunawansa Thera said.

He said that the Bill must be discussed more widely by the public before it gets parliamentary approval.

“The Government is only in temporary custodian of power for five years, but the people of this country are the real custodians of this country and they have a right to know how laws impact them,” the Thera said.

The Archbishop of Colombo questioned the Government’s hurry to pass this Bill at a time when the entire country is in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People are suspicious about the haste in which this Bill is being pushed through Parliament. I request the Government, on behalf of the people, to postpone the vote on this Bill,” he said. 

UNP calls on Govt. to withdraw Port City Bill

SJB offers conditional support for Port City Bill