News

News

Joint Opposition to assert rights in House
All set to introduce Independent Media Commission bill
By Frances Bulathsinghala
The joint Opposition as the first move has planned to introduce a bill in parliament for the appointment of an Independent Media Commission. This bill would be presented shortly and others would follow in quick succession, with moves to take control of Parliamentary committees.

Chief Opposition Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe said other bills would be related to strengthening the powers of Parliament and the implementation of an Elections Commission.

The Independent Media Commission will seek all top appointments in State media institutions to be made through the Constitutional Council. According to UNF members this would 'create history' as being the first bill to be presented by an Opposition.

"We cannot run away from the fact that we are a minority government. Let them bring in their bills. If we agree to them we will support them.", Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha said yesterday, adding 'This is going to be the nature of Parliament from now on."

Mr. Samarasinghe reacting to a question whether they would be violating Parliamentary norms said they were following its 'rules to the hilt'.

"We have the majority. All parliamentary norms indicate that the majority in parliament should be the deciding factor. We are working on the draft and would be inviting the government to take part in the consultations", Mr. Samarasinghe said.

Meanwhile the Joint Opposition also plans to pressurise the government for a higher representation in Parliament committees. "If there are to be ten members in a committee, we want at least six members to be from the Opposition", TNA's Joseph Pararajasingham, said.

The demand from the Opposition is to be presented at the next party leaders' meeting before Parliament meets on July 20. SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem said the decision was taken to promote democracy, while UNP sources said the joint opposition 'did not want to give up their rights' as they held the majority.

Top

Back to News