Debate on Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill postponed by a month

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera  

The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms decided to postpone the second reading debate of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill by a month on request made by Members of Parliament. 

The decision was made when the Ministerial Consultative Committee met in Parliament yesterday under the chairmanship of Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe taking into consideration the requests made by the Members of the Committee.  Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed the House that the Supreme Court determined that Regulations of Election Expenditure Bill is consistent with the Constitution and can be passed with a simple majority in Parliament.  The debate on the second reading of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill was approved at the committee following the consideration of the relevant amendments made to the said Bill and it is to be taken up for debate today to be passed in Parliament.