18th Amendment operational September 23 2010

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa announced in Parliament today e has certified the 18th Amendment to the Constitution Bill. The amendments have become law and its provisions will now become operational, he said.

Meanwhile, UNP MP Karu Jayasuriyas Private Members Bill on freedom of information was withdrawn after the Chief Government Whip Minister Dinesh Gunawardena pointed out that the Government was drafting a similar bill.