OMP Bill passed amidst chaotic scenes‏

The Government rushed the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) Bill through parliament today amidst strong protests from the Joint opposition group in Parliament.

The Bill was passed with amendments while members of the JO stood in the Well of the House shouting as the two and half day debate was reduced to less than an hour.

The chaotic scenes began when the leader of the House Highways and Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella moved the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) bill for the second reading.

JO group, leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena said his group wanted more time to debate the Bill and asked that the vote be taken on Friday evening. However the government said the vote had to be taken by two on Friday afternoon.

After the House was adjourned once due to the protests, when the House reconvened, the Speaker Karu Jayasuirya asked the government to proceed with the debate.

Foreign Minister Magala Samaraweera was the main government speaker who explained the contents of the Bill amidst   all the shouting. He was followed by TNA MP M .A Sumanthiran and JVP MP Bimal Ratnayaka. A little while later the Bill was put to the House and passed.(CK)