Minister Sunil Watagala told Parliament that the proposed Protection of Occupants Bill has been put on hold for the time being, with further decisions to be made after considering legal matters and related issues.
Watagala made these remarks in response to views expressed by several political figures, including Ali Sabry and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who have raised concerns about the bill and its potential implications.
He questioned why similar concerns were not raised in 2024, when a comparable bill was presented to Parliament while those now commenting were part of the government. Watagala noted that Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was serving as Minister of Justice at the time the earlier bill was submitted.
He said the government respects the views and opinions of the general public and is acting in line with democratic principles, pointing to the public consultation period provided for submitting public opinions on the matter.
However, Watagala reiterated that the bill has been temporarily put on hold, and that a decision on whether to proceed will be taken after reviewing legal aspects and other relevant considerations. (NewsWire)