Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1394558,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1394558/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 276,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Murugara",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Secondly, we have also re-defined their functions. Principally, they are Cabinet Secretary Assistants. They will work under the direction of cabinet secretaries to assist them in meetings, government portfolios and whatever other assignments they are assigned. We have not provided whatsoever that they are in between cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries. There is no mention of the Principal Secretary in the provisions we are talking about. In essence, what we are saying is that these CASs will be assisting cabinet secretaries while principal secretaries are technocrats, people who are supposed to be accounting officers and administer various State departments under them. There is no provision whatsoever that a CAS is going to administer a State department, whether assigned by the Cabinet Secretary or otherwise. That is not one of the functions we have proposed. Therefore, looking at this Bill in totality, I believe what is being raised by the Leader of the Minority Party and those who have supported him are debates that are supposed to be in opposition to the Bill and this can only be sustained if they have read the Report and the addendum. They must also know that there will be Committee of the whole House on the Bill, where all the amendments that are proposed will be executed. The arguments being advanced now will change once this Bill goes through the Committee of the whole House. Unless those amendments are within their knowledge, they cannot be heard to say what we are saying is unconstitutional. In my view, the debate by the Leader of the Minority Party is pre-emptive, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor"
}