The government was willing to amend the Office on Missing Persons Act to accommodate opposition’s amendments which had been missed out during the third reading stage debate of the bill, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament yesterday.
The Prime Minister made the observation when Chief Opposition Whip and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake asked the government to reveal its position on the amendments proposed by his party, which had not been included in the final Bill signed by the Speaker.
The Prime Minister made the observation when Chief Opposition Whip and JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake asked the government to reveal its position on the amendments proposed by his party, which had not been included in the final Bill signed by the Speaker.
MP Dissanayake said one out of the three Amendments proposed by the JVP had not been accommodated as it was not read out at the Committee stage. "MP Bimal Rathnayake, who was present in the chamber to present our party’s Amendments had not been given a chance by the Speaker at that time. It may be due to the chaotic situation that prevailed. The Hansard report of that day shows the confusion that prevailed at the time," he said.
Wickremesinghe said the matter would be discussed with Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. "We will look into all options available to include the JVP Amendment. If there is no other way we will bring in an Amendment Bill to the OMP Act," he said.
Leader of the House and Minister Lakshman Kiriella asked the JVP to submit in writing the Amendments they wanted included.
