Seven members nominated to P’ment Selection Committee

Thursday, 22 November 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Parliamentarians loyal to MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday presented names of seven members to Parliament Secretary-General as nominees for the Parliamentary Selection Committee.

Accordingly, UPFA MPs Dinesh Gunawardena, S. B. Dissanayake, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Wimal Weerawansa, Thilanga Sumathipala, and Udaya Gammanpila have been nominated to the Selection Committee.

Since seats on the Selection Committee are established to reflect the representation of political parties in Parliament, the United National Party (UNP) has contended that a majority of seats on the committee should be allocated to mirror the 122 MPs who have banded together since Parliament was reconvened on 14 November.

“Selection Committee majority is based on the majority in the Parliament. We have a majority of 122, and if the proposed Government has a majority, then show it in the House. Only then can they be given majority in the Selection Committee. Without getting majority in the House, you cannot get majority in the Selection Committee. The appointment of the Selection Committee is a matter before Parliament, not a concern of the Government as S. B. Dissanayake seemed to imply,” UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella told reporters on Wednesday.

“This is a question about ethics. If they are holding on to power they don’t have, not respecting the laws and Constitution of this country, then what can be done?”