WILL TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GOVT: JO

Assigning NLB and DLB to FAM

The joint opposition (JO) said yesterday it would take legal action against the government decision to place the Development Lotteries Board (DLB) and the National Lotteries Board (NLB) under the purview of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in violation of the Financial Act.

MP Bandula Gunawardena told a news conference that according to the Finance Act No.11 of 1963, it was the Finance Minister who was the authorized minister to regulate the NLB.

“Minister means the Minister to whom the subject or function of finance is assigned by the Prime Minister under Section 46 of the Ceylon (Constitution) Order in Council, 1946,” he said quoting from the Act. “We ask Foreign Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake whether it was legal for him to administer the lotteries boards which came under the Finance Ministry previously. The Act clearly mentions that the members of the lotteries boards should be appointed by the Finance Minister, not the Foreign Minister.”

SLPP Chairman G.L. Peiris said not only was it a violation of the Financial Act it was also impractical. “What does the foreign ministry or its secretary know about lotteries? They have nothing to do with the lotteries board,” he said.

A special gazette notification was issued on June 9 assigning the Development Lotteries Board and the National Lotteries Board to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.