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Prof. Ranjith Bandara vs. Eran Wickramaratne for COPE Chairmanship

05 Oct 2022

  • Harsha steps down from COPE to make way for Prof. Charitha Herath 
  • Herath accepts SJB’s generosity 
BY Mirudhula Thambiah   While the election in Parliament to choose the Chairperson for the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) is scheduled for tomorrow (6), the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led Government will field SLPP MP Prof. Ranjith Bandara as its candidate for the post in the wake of the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), already having nominated its MP Eran Wickramaratne for the same. Speaking to The Morning, SLPP General Secretary, MP and Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam said: “We are thinking of having Prof. Bandara contest for the Chairmanship of the COPE. What we can do is field the candidate and allow the COPE members to decide.” Chief Opposition Whip, SJB MP and Attorney Lakshman Kiriella confirmed to The Morning that Wickramaratne will contest in the election to choose the Chairperson of the COPE.  “Wickramaratne told me that he would contest in the said election,” he said.  Meanwhile, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday (4) that Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Chairperson Chairperson Dr. Harsha de Silva, who was also selected and appointed to the COPE as a member, had voluntary stepped down from his membership in the COPE, and that the SJB had nominated former COPE Chairman and incumbent SLPP elected “independent” Opposition MP Prof. Charitha Herath as Dr. de Silva’s replacement.  Dr. de Silva Tweeted yesterday: “I am resigning from the COPE to pave the way for Prof. Herath, who was sacked by President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Government which is controlled by the SLPP. As the COPF Chair, I have my hands full, as I am transforming the COPF and establishing a Parliament Budget Office.”  Meanwhile, speaking to The Morning, Prof. Herath noted that he would accept the nomination by the SJB.  “I am going to accept it and I am thankful to Dr. de Silva for resigning and to Premadasa for appointing me,” he added.  When queried as to whether he would once again accept the Chairmanship of the COPE, he noted: “I don’t think that it will be available because the Government side has more members. It will be elected by the majority.”  Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana appointed the members of the COPE on Monday (3). Accordingly, he announced in Parliament that notwithstanding the provisions of the Standing Order 120 of Parliament and the resolution adopted by Parliament on 10 August 2022, members have been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the COPE in terms of the motion agreed to by the Parliament on 29 August 2022.  Accordingly, Jagath Pushpakumara, Janaka Wakkumbura, Lohan Ratwatte, Indika Anuruddha Herath, D.V. Chanaka, Shantha Bandara, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Rauff Hakeem, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Rohitha Abeygunawardana, Dr. de Silva, Wickramaratne, Nimal Lanza, S.M.M. Muszhaaraff, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S.M. Marikkar, Mujibur Rahuman, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Jagath Kumara Sumithraarachchi, Premnath C. Dolawatte, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Rajika Wickramasinghe, Madhura Withanage, and Prof. Bandara have been nominated by the Committee of Selection.


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