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Sri Lankan Opposition to Back Government Bill
Sri Lanka's all opposition political parties will back the government's bill for the setting up of the four independent commissions when it is tabled in parliament later this month, the Sunday Observer said.
At the political party leaders meeting held in Parliament on Friday, the opposition parties including the main United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) as well as the leftist JVP or People's Liberation Front and the Sihala Urumaya unanimously decided to back the bill to be introduced in Parliament on September 24 to establish independent commissions on judiciary, police, elections, public service and also a constitutional council.
This will be legislated in the form of the 17th amendment to the constitution as required by the ruling People's Alliance's new partner the JVP when the two sides signed on Wednesday the agreement which has enabled the government to survive.
A UNP MP said that the bill will get the required two-thirds majority in Parliament. "It will be discussed when the House meets on September 24 and will be passed the same day," he added.
The government lost its majority in the 225-member Parliament following the withdrawal of SLMC in June. The JVP with 10 seats in Parliament has helped to prop up the government after it tried in vain to form a government of consensus with the UNP.
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