GL alleges Mahinda Yapa an extension of executive
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Alleging that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena functioned as an extension of the executive, Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP, yesterday (26), declared that the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)would move a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the SLPPer over the enactment of Online Safety law (ONLINE SAFETY ACT, No. 9 OF 2024), contrary to the Constitution.
The SJB-led Opposition will push for debate and vote on the NCM in the run-up to the forthcoming presidential poll. In terms of the Constitution, the next presidential election will have to be conducted between Sept 17 and Oct 17 this year.
The dissident SLPP lawmaker, who recently aligned himself with the SJB, said that the party and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa initiated the NCM. The former External Affairs Minister said so addressing the media at his Kirula Road residence after signing the NCM.
Prof. Peiris alleged that Speaker Abeywardena’s reckless actions undermined the Constitution as well as the parliamentary Standing Orders. There hadn’t been a previous instance of a Speaker disregarding the Supreme Court’s recommendations in respect of a particular Bill the way the incumbent did with the Online Safety Bill (OSB), Prof. Peiris maintained.
Of 225 MPs, 108 cast their votes in favour of the Bill and 62 voted against it.
“In spite of our efforts to convince the Speaker to adhere to the SC’s recommendations, he simply went ahead with the despicable political strategy pursued by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa dispensation,” the former minister said, alleging that the Speaker also disregarded the Human Rights Commission’s advice in respect of the OSB.
Referring to a lengthy statement, titled ‘Clarification on ill-informed and baseless reports that the Online Safety Bill was passed in violation of the Supreme Court determination’ issued by the Speaker’s Office on February 06, …read more
Source:: The Island