Ruling Party issues notice of Mandatory Attendance to all Govt. MPs amid key bill debate

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The ruling party alliance has sent a written message stating that all members of parliament representing the ruling party must attend parliamentary proceedings this week.

A senior MP from the ruling party says the announcement was made through a brief three-line message. According to the MP, a three-line announcement is used for important bills like a budget referendum or a constitutional amendment.

As a result of this announcement, MPs are temporarily not allowed to travel abroad during this time. If an MP fails to attend parliamentary proceedings after being notified, they must provide reasons for their absence. The proposal to remove Janaka Ratnayake from the position of Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission will be discussed in Parliament on May 24th, and a vote will be held on the same day.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna has already stated that it will vote in favor of the proposal. However, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Jathika Jana Balawegaya have announced that they will vote against it. Meanwhile, Basil Rajapaksa, the national organizer of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, has returned to the island. Sagara Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, says that Basil Rajapaksa returned to the island on Friday morning after having left for Dubai on May 7th.