No motion valid if against statutes

Shirley WIJESINGHE

COLOMBO: Responding to a question by Dr. Chandradasa Nanayakkara, President of the One Man Commission appointed to probe alleged malpractices in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Municipal Commissioner Dr. Jayantha Liyanage accepted yesterday that no motion could he passed by the council if it violates the Local Government Statute.

Defence Attorney Maithri Gunaratne was cross examining witness Dr. Liyanage about a statement he made before the commission on an earlier date.

The statement was about extending the tender without calling for bids in respect of the Solid Waste Management of the City of Colombo leaving out the Colombo Fort area.

According to the hansard, the motion was passed by the Council General Meeting opposed only by two council members.

Twenty Two Councillors were not present at the Council at the time the votes were taken on the motion. Before winding up the yesterday’s session Dr. Nanayakkara made some comments about the misconduct of Defence Attorney Gunarathne and appealed the Lawyers of all parties to refrain from asking embarrassing questions which are mostly not relevant to the case.

He expressed his disappointment to the incident which was created during the last session.

The Consultant of the State Attorney Mohan Peries intervened and settled the episode peacefully.

The next meeting of the Commission will be taken place on Monday.