Parliament approval sought to reconvene dissolved local bodies

By Yohan Perera and Ajirh Siriwardana   

A gazette notifications which were issued on June 26th to reconvene dissolved local bodies were presented for Parliament’s approval amdst cries from the opposition.   
As per the gazette notifications all Pradeshiya sabhas, urban councils and municipal councils that have been dissolved could be reconvened by the Minister in charge of Local Government and Provincial Councils for a period as decided by the subject Minister’s discretion not withstanding the lapse of 12 months extension which was made earlier as the elections to those bodies cannot be held.   

The Municipal Councils Ordinance, the Pradeshiya Sabha Act and the Urban Council Ordinance are to be amended accordingly to reconvene the local bodies.   
Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said reconvening the dissolved bodies are undemocratic. 

“ This is done following the request by ‘ kaputa’ by his ghost and we will go to courts against it,” he said.   

MP Harsha De Silva questioned as to why the Speaker entertained this gazette as it is unconstitutional. MP Jayantha Ketagoda questioned as how the SJB is objecting to this move after calling the former Speaker to reconvene the previous Parliament which was dissolved in 2020.   

“We called for the reconvening of Parliament to decide on how to face the COVID-19 pandemic which was prevailing at that time.” There are ‘ thakathiruwas’ who do not understand anything “ he said.   

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the opposition is free to take legal action against the move.   

• Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said reconvening the dissolved bodies are undemocratic. “ This is done following the request by ‘ kaputa’ by his ghost and we will go to courts against it