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SLPP to allow Opposition to lead COPA

05 Oct 2022

  BY Mirudhula Thambiah   Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP)-led Government members in the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), in a gesture of goodwill, is to allow the Opposition to lead the said committee, if the latter wishes to helm the same.  Accordingly, the SLPP may not field a candidate at today’s (5) election in Parliament to appoint the COPA Chair if the Opposition agrees to take up the chairpersonship of the COPA, as suggested by SLPP members. SLPP General Secretary MP and Attorney Sagara Kariyawasam, speaking to The Morning, said yesterday (4): “As a gesture of good will, we don’t mind giving the COPA to the Opposition. We are still negotiating with the Opposition in this regard.”  He further said: “Even today, I informed them to let us know if they really want the post. We don’t mind allowing them to take up the post of COPA Chair, but still I haven’t received any feedback from them. Outside the Chamber, I informed Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mayantha Dissanayake to convey the message. Even before that, I informed the Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella that we don’t mind giving it to them. We are thinking of all the parties getting together.”  Kariyawasam noted however, that the chairpersonship cannot be directly given to the Opposition, as an election must be held, and that if the Opposition consents to the suggestion, a candidate will not be fielded by the Government.  “We actually cannot give it to them, as it has to go through an election, and in that case, we will decide not to put forward a candidate for the chairpersonship, from the ruling party.”  Kariyawasam noted that according to the Parliamentary Standing Orders, it is up to the COPA members to decide whom to appoint as its chair.  “Right from the beginning, we had a very firm position on this because as citizens of this country, we are governed by the laws of this country. Likewise, Parliament is governed by a set of laws called the Standing Orders. Parliament has to work according to the Standing Orders,” he added. Meanwhile, the SJB had earlier nominated MP Kabir Hashim to contest for the COPA Chairmanship. Hashim confirmed to The Morning yesterday that he would contest as the nominee of the SJB at the COPA election that is scheduled to be held today. When queried as to whether he would contest, he said, “yes, I am hoping to,” and confirmed that he would be the SJB’s nominee. Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced in Parliament on Monday (3) that notwithstanding the provisions of the Standing Order 119 of the Parliament, and the resolution adopted by the Parliament on 10 August 2022, members have been nominated to the COPA in terms of the motion agreed to by the Parliament on 29 August, 2022.  Accordingly, Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, K. Kader Masthan, Dr. Suren Raghavan, Diana Gamage, S.B. Dissanayake, Tissa Attanayake, Hashim, Sarath Weerasekera, Wimalaweera Dissanayake, Niroshan Perera, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, J.C. Alawathuwala, Ashok Abeysinghe, Buddhika Pathirana, Jayantha Samaraweera, Hector Appuhamy, Hesha Withanage, Dr. Pradeep Undugoda, Isuru Dodangoda, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, M.W.D. Sahan Pradeep Withana, D. Weerasingha, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Prof. Charitha Herath, and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya have been nominated by the Committee of Selection.


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