Divineguma Bill will be passed on Jan 8

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Divineguma Department that would cater to the poor will be established with the passage of the Divineguma Bill into an Act in Parliament on January 8, Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywadana said.

He was addressing a press conference at the Economic Development Ministry World Trade Center, Colombo, yesterday.

The Deputy Minister said any high official could be removed from his or her position by following the laid down procedure . Parliament is the supreme institute and the Select committee has been vested with powers to act , he said.

He denied allegations that the Chief Justice was subjected to a hostile reception by the Select Committee. The arguments arose only with the lawyers he said .

After establishing Divineguma Department , 16,000 graduate recruits would be be made permanent,he said.