Joint Opposition demands membership of COPE and COPA

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

 The Joint Opposition yesterday called on the Speaker to allow them to represent the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) which have yet to be moved in Parliament.

 Joint Opposition MP Dinesh Gunawardena visibly unhappy about the delay said: “We were expecting to nominate MPs Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Prasanna Ranatunga for these two committees. I wonder why the chair is reluctant to make this announcement allowing the Joint Opposition to represent the two committees. We submitted the name three weeks ago.”

 Setting the record straight by expressing the UNP policy to encourage more opposition members to be actively involved in committees, Minister of Higher Education and Highways and Leader of the House Lakshman Kiriella said: “We are willing to accept all names submitted from the Opposition. Currently the Government has seven appointees while the opposition is allowed to have 10 out of the 17. We expect more representation from the Opposition in the COPE. If you can remember, during his previous tenure, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe appointed former Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle Chairman of the COPE. The UNP policy is to have more Opposition lawmakers in these committees.”

 Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala suggested that the Joint Opposition resubmit their proposal through the UPFA group leader to be reconsidered. “Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva is the UPFA group leader in Parliament. I would like your suggestions to be given to him, which could be represented to the Speaker,” he said.