Port City Bill: Dispute over missing two votes

The voting in Parliament for the third reading for the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill has now run into problems with claims that two votes had not been taken into count, thereby depriving the government to maintain its prestige that it still has the support of a two thirds majority in parliament.

The vote is now subject of an inquiry wh i ch Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has decided to hold, according to Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake.

According to a communique from Parliament, the number of votes received in in favour of the Third Reading of the Bill was 149 and the number of votes against was 58.

But, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella is already protesting that he has never heard of a vote being recounted in Parliament. His party members are already holding news conferences to say the government has lost the two thirds majority it managed to gain when the 20th Amendment was passed.

But Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) General Secreary Sagara Kariywasam is insisting that two votes had not been taken into count. They are those of Justice Minister Ali Sabry and National List MP Jayaratne Herath.

Meanwhile, two members of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by Rishard Bathiudeen have been suspended from the party for violating a party decision and voting in support of the Port Commission Bill.

The two members are Ishak Rahaman and Ali Sabri Raheem. They were served the letters of suspension yesterday.

They voted for the Bill while their party leader Bathiudeen who is currently in custody voted against the Bill.