Sept 26, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Western provincial Council passed the proposed Divi Neguma Bill Tuesday with a majority of 40 votes.

The draft bill presented to the Provincial Council yesterday received 64 votes in favor and 24 against.

Chief Minister of the Western Provincial council Prasanna Ranatunga has noted that implementation of this new bill will challenge the rights of the Western Provincial council and the bill was forwarded for the welfare of the public.

The Supreme Court last week informed the parliament that the bill cannot be approved by the parliament without being sanctioned by provincial councils.

The Divi Neguma Department Bill proposes the establishment of the new department by amalgamating the Samurdhi Authority, Southern Development Authority and the Udarata Development Authority.

The Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa presented the Divi Neguma bill to parliament in order to establish the Department of Divi Neguma Development.

Two petitions against the bill have also been filed in the Supreme Court.