ARE PARTY LEADERS SCARED TO BRING LAWS TO SCRAP CIVIC RIGHTS?

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who kicked off the adjournment debate on the PCOI and PRECIFAC reports in Parliament on Tuesday questioned whether political party leaders were prepared to amend Article 81 of the Constitution. The PRECIFAC in its report has recommended that Section 80 of the Constitution be amended to provide for the stripping of a person’s civic rights if found guilty of serious crimes.

“Are the party leaders prepared to amend Section 80 of Are the party leaders prepared to amend Section 80 of the Constitution or are they scared to do it the Constitution or are they scared to do it,” he asked. The PM told Parliament that legislation pertaining to the re-organization of the Central Bank would be introduced as recommended by the PCOI. “We will also present legislation to create a budget office for Parliament soon,” he said and added that those responsible for the bond scam had already been arrested and would be legally dealt with.

The PM said the debate on the PCOI and PRECIFAC reports had to be held today because the Elections Commission Chairman informed him that the local government elections would have to be postponed if the debate was held on February 8 as planned earlier.

“I informed the Speaker to convene the House today on a request made by Chief Opposition Whip Anura Kumara Dissanayake who wanted the debate held before the LG elections.

This was in the wake of my earlier request to convene Parliament on January 10 following the request made by the party leaders who finally decided to have a three-day debate,” he said.