BILLS PASSED HURRIEDLY

Govt. targeting casinos to raise money, says UNP

MPs have been informed of the Consultative Committee Meeting on 21 Bills to be taken up in Parliament less than 24 hours before the scheduled time, United National Party (UNP) charged yesterday.

UNP National List MP Dr. Harsha De Silva told a news conference that messengers had been hurriedly sent to the homes of the MPs to inform them about the meeting less than 24 hours before it was held last Wednesday.

He said the MPs did not

Informed them about the meeting less than 24 hours before it was held …did not have adequate time to study the Bills to find the pros and cons

have adequate time to study the Bills to find the pros and cons.

“We were not able to discuss the Bills in an effective manner in the Consultative Committee Meeting as a result of this irresponsible handling of Parliamentary affairs,” Dr. De Silva said.

The UNP MP said some of these Bills were unbelievable. Citing an example he said unbelievable amendments were to be made to the Gaming Bill under which tax concessions are given to the betting centers.

“12 percent VAT and the 3 percent Nation Building Tax have been removed and a five percent tax had been introduced as well. He charged that the government had decided to make gaming a major factor in the local economy,” he said.

“Fiscal Responsibility Act is to be amended in such a way that it is set to become Fiscal Irresponsibility Act. This is because the time period stipulated to reduce the government debt to 60 percent of the GDP is extended to year 2020 under this amendment,” he said.