Divineguma Bill passed in Eastern, Central PCs

Athapattu Bandara

The Divineguma Bill which was presented in the Eastern Provincial Council yesterday was passed with a majority of six votes. The UPFA, SLMC and JNP councilors voted for the Bill while the UNP and the TNA voted against the Bill. Twenty one members voted for the Bill while 15 members opposed it.

Meanwhile, the Central Provincial Council also passed the Divineguma Bill yesterday with a majority of 19 votes. A total of 36 votes were received for the Bill while 17 voted against the Bill. UNP members voted against the Bill. The Bill was presented to the Council by its chairman Saliya Bandara Dissanayaka and was passed after a five hour debate.

The Divineguma draft Bill has already been passed in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western and Uva Provincial Councils. The Bill was presented to the Provincial Councils on the advice of the Supreme Court to the effect that the Bill should be past by all PCs before it becomes law.