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Port City Commission bill should include key government officials: Gevidu
Government MP Gevidu Cumaratunga, who made remarks on behalf of his Yuthukama organization, proposed amendments to the Port City Economic Commission Bill stressing that, among others, majority members of the Commission should be Sri Lankans and ex-officio members instead of all being appointed by the president.
MP Cumaratunga told a press conference that the commission, to be set up under the bill once enacted into law, comprises five to seven members to be appointed by the president. However, he said the draft bill should be changed for the inclusion of key government officials such as the finance ministry secretary and the Central Bank governor.
He said it would be advisable to include four ex-officio members leaving room for the remaining three to be appointed by the president.
The ruling party legislator said two concept papers had been worked out before the present draft of the bill -one during the time of the former government and the other by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on June 16, 2020.
“Both these concept papers highlighted the need to reserve majority slots in the commission for ex-officio members who hold various positions in the government sector. Then, they are naturally Sri Lankans,” he said.
He said, “The port city is bound to be an economic nerve centre in the region. Therefore, we have to be careful,”
He also, said Parliament should have some say over the proposed commission. (Kelum Bandara)
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