Eran questions Speaker under point of order

Main Opposition SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne

Main Opposition SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne yesterday questioned the Speaker by raising a question under the standing orders, whether the Constitutional Assembly, which has been established as an independent institution, has approved the rules for approving Bills adhering to proper methods.

He also questioned whether the Secure Transactions Bill, which was taken for debate in Parliament, was referred to the Consultative Council (CC) of the concerned Ministry and received its approval.

In the recent past when Parliament hastily passed online security Act, there was no required oversight committee report for it. Therefore, this question is especially directed because when an act is passed, it should be done constitutionally and in accordance with standing orders, he said

Wickramaratne said that the amendments to be brought to the Secured Transactions Bill have not been submitted to the House so far. He also questioned the Speaker about the functioning of the Parliament’s oversight committees. In previous cases, the Constitutional Council had formulated rules with the consent of all its members. But the gazette given to the members of this assembly on 31 December 2023 and the gazette notification issued before it mentions the rules and regulations but there is no mention that they were approved by the CC.

Have the rules published in that gazette been approved by the Constitutional Council? When were they approved? Did all the members agree in approving it? If not all the members agreed, how many agreed? Who were the members who participated in the meeting at that time? Wickramaratne said that he expects answers from the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene regarding the rules mentioned in the gazette published at the end.

The Deputy Speaker, who was presiding over the House at that time, said that these questions, raised according to the standing orders would be forwarded to the Speaker and a quick reply would be given.