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Strategic Development Project bill passed in Parliament; Rathana Thero votes against
Apr 24, 201407:16 PM
The controversial gazette tabled under the Strategic Development Project Act was passed in Parliament today with a majority of 71 votes. A total of 113 members voted in favour while only 42, including UPFA MP, voted against the bill.
Incidentally MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a coalition party of the ruling UPFA government, has voted against the gazette notification, providing for a mixed development project in D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha.
Meanwhile JHU member and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and the National Freedom Front (NFF), another coalition party of the UPFA, were reportedly absent during the vote.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, speaking media heads earlier today, said that Draft Strategic Development Projects bill does not allow any casinos as claimed by opposition parties and said it is only a hotel project.
The gazette notification allows for several tax concessions to be given to the project to establish and operate an Integrated Super Luxury Tourist Resort which consists 500 rooms including high end shopping malls high quality residencies and office spaces/service spaces with associated facilities at D. R. Wijewardena Mawatha, Colombo 10 to a Company.
