Categories: Headlines

Bills redrafted more than 20 times, Legal Draftsman complains

The Legal Draftsman’s Department has redrafted Bills, some more than 20 times, as instructing agencies keep on changing policy, the Department has said in a report presented to Parliament.

For example, the National Audit Bill and the Motor Traffic Bill have been amended 22 times so far, the Department has said.
The other Bills amended more than ten times and are yet to be finalised include the State Land (Special Provisions) Bill (13 times), the Land Development Ordinance (14 times), the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill (10 times), the Sri Lanka Sustainable Development Bill (15 times) and the Voluntary Social Service (Registration and Supervision) Bill (11 times).

It says that, irrespective of a Bill being earlier finalised, this Department has to attend to it dedicating the same time and attention given to a fresh request. “Request for such amendments to completed drafts are sent even after the final draft is sent out in all three languages and sometimes the procedure is repeated a number of times,” the Department has complained.

The recently passed Local Government Elections (Amendment) Bill was amended 15 times before it was debated and passed by parliament.

AddThis Website Tools
Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – Coconut harvest to drop further this year, imports to continue

LNP – Coconut harvest to drop further this year, imports to continue

The Coconut Research Institute has forecast a further decline of 250 million nuts crop for…

19 hours ago
LNP – Trouble for Sinopec oil refinery in Hambantota Port – report

LNP – Trouble for Sinopec oil refinery in Hambantota Port – report

The proposed $3.7 million oil refinery to be built by China’s Sinopec in Sri Lanka’s…

19 hours ago
LNP – Film festival showcases what artificial intelligence can do on the big screen

LNP – Film festival showcases what artificial intelligence can do on the big screen

Artificial intelligence ’s use in movie making is exploding. And a young film festival, now…

19 hours ago

LNP – Van carrying schoolchildren crashes in Ragala; Three injured

A van transporting schoolchildren veered off the road and overturned yesterday afternoon, injuring a schoolgirl,…

1 day ago

LNP – Sigiriya becomes nation’s first sustainable destination

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector has reached a major sustainability milestone, with Sigiriya being officially declared…

1 day ago

LNP – Sri Lanka’s remittance inflow exceeds $3 billion in first 5 months

Sri Lanka has received USD 641.7 million in workers’ remittances in May 2025, according to…

1 day ago