Jan 07, Colombo: Sri Lanka's major Tamil political party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says the party would vote against the amended controversial Divi Neguma Bill when it is taken up for a vote in parliament this week.

The government plans to present the amended Divi Neguma Bill in the parliament on January 08 when the House meets after the holidays.

TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran has said there was no change in the party's stance in relation to the Bill.

He has explained that the TNA would vote against the Bill since it would acquire certain powers vested with the provincial councils.

However, he has observed that the party may reconsider its stance if the government includes the amendments proposed by the party in the Bill. Premachandran has noted that the proposed amendments have so far not been included in the Bill.

The government has made 10 amendments to the Bill based on the recommendations made by the Supreme Court after considering 14 petitions filed against the Bill.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), an ally of the government, also said that it is yet to reach a final decision on the party's stance on the controversial Bill as some SLMC members have expressed concerns over the bill since it interfered with subjects vested with the provincial councils under the 13th Amendment. .