Passage of Divi Neguma Bill:

‘Govt will never go against constitution’

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The government acts in accordance with the provisions of the constitution in getting the Divi Neguma Draft Bill passed by Provincial Councils, Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

The minister was addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing at the Media and Information Ministry yesterday.

The minister said the government will never go against the constitution and never take decisions, which do not conform with the provisions of the constitution.

“It has been clearly mentioned the measures to be taken when a Provincial Council is not functioning or a Council has not been established. In such a situation, the constitution stipulates the path to be taken” Minister Rambukwella said.

“Therefore, the government only takes decisions and moves forward in step with the constitution,” the minister added.

“The government would not act unconstitutionally and would abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling that all Provincial Councils had to endorse the Divi Neguma Draft Bill, before it was submitted for Parliamentary approval” Minister said.

The minister was asked if it was not unconstitutional for the Northern Province Governor, who is a Presidential appointee, to endorse the Bill, when the Council did not have elected representatives, Minister Rambukwella said the government will abide by the Supreme Court ruling and would not act unconstitutionally.

The Divi Neguma Draft Bill has been endorsed by eight Provincial Councils. The Draft Bill was endorsed by the Southern Provincial Council with a majority of 21 votes, 36 for and 15 against.

Meanwhile, the Divi Neguma Draft Bill was passed with a majority of 15 votes at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council. Twenty seven voted for the Bill while 12 councilors opposed it.

The North Central Provincial Council too passed the Divi Neguma Bill with a majority of seven votes. Eighteen members voted for the Bill while 11 members of UNP and JVP councillors voted against it.

The Divi Neguma Bill is an effort to win the economic war in collaboration with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Economic development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in line with the overall development drive of the government.