Sajith queries Govt’s stance on nominating Opposition members to COPE, COPA

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday inquired whether the Government had changed the decision to nominate members of Opposition to the Chairmanship of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).

The Opposition Leader said in Parliament yesterday that, as per the Standing Orders, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Harsha de Silva has already been appointed Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance. Several SJB MPs speaking in Parliament alleged that President Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was Prime Minister has also assured that the Chairmanship of COPE, COPA and the Committee on Public Finance should be given to the Opposition. Accordingly, the Opposition groups in Parliament nominated SJB MPs Kabir Hashim and Eran Wickramaratne for the Chairmanships of COPE and COPA.

The Opposition Leader further inquired Premadasa whether standing orders in parliament were going to be suspended in order to make the appointments.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said on June 2nd this year that Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene has assured that Opposition members will be appointed as Chairpersons of COPE and COPA. Nominating Opposition members for the Parliament Committees is a common practice in developed countries. “It is good for the Government if the Committees are given to the Opposition,” he added.

In response to this, Leader of the House and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that an agreement on these appointments are to be reached at the next meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena who is currently out of the country.

He further said that it’s better to discuss the matter in the presence of the Speaker as there is no agreement yet on this matter.