Harsha out, Mayantha in

Heated arguments erupted in Parliament after appointing Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Mayantha Dissanayake as Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (COPF) yesterday.

SJB Parliamentarian Harsha de Silva who was tipped to be the chairman of the COPF earlier said it was an act of the ruling party denying the services of the Opposition.

“The Government wanted our services and I agreed to provide services as the chairperson of the COPF. However as I see now the Government does not want the opposition’s support. I can very well be without this position but it is clear how the Government behaves,” he said.

SJB Parliamentarians Harshana Rajakaruna and Ashok Abeysinghe said that the Committee of Selections can only approve the name that has been already nominated. MP Rajakaruna said that the Committee of Selections does not have the power to appoint someone new. Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga said the standing orders only say that someone from the opposition should head the finance committee and that is what the committee of selections has done. “Opposition should not mislead the public,” he said.

Meanwhile, political sources said that the Dr.Silva did not seek the support of the Government MPs and even Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa had not backed Silva.