Former members of Parliamentary financial watchdog committees likely to be reappointed

• Comprises Chairmen and members of COPE, COPA and COPF of previous Parliament

By Skandha Gunasekara

The members of the three main Parliamentary financial watchdog committees are likely to remain unchanged after Parliament recommenced post prorogation. 

The Chairmen and members of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the Public Accounts Committee (COPA) would be the same as before Parliament was prorogued, political sources told the Daily FT. 

The decision was taken at a Party Leaders meeting held on Wednesday. 

The Government had proposed that the same Chairmen and members be reappointed to the aforementioned Committees.

The Party Leaders met soon after a meeting of the Selection Committee chaired by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya within the Parliamentary Complex. 

Despite the proposal by the Government, a final decision was not reached at the Party Leaders meeting regarding the appointments.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya is to announce the new appointments to the Committees in Parliament during next week’s sittings. 

Parliament was prorogued by President Maithripala Sirisena on 12 April, upon which the Parliamentary committees stood dissolved. 

Prior to the prorogation of Parliament, JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti headed COPE, Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna was the Chairman of PAC, and TNA MP Sumanthiran was the Chief of COPF. Each committee consists of 24 members.