CoPE hit by more resignations 

• Three more MPs resign from CoPE membership
•  Total number of MPs who have stepped down from CoPE now stands at 10

The Parliamentary Enterprises (CoPE) continued to lose more members yesterday after three more MPs resigned from the committee over the appointment of Government MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena as Chairman. 

As a result, MPs Anura Dissanayake, Duminda Dissanayake, and Wasantha Yapa Bandara have relinquished their positions on the Committee. 

With their resignations, the total number of MPs who have stepped down from the committee now stands at 10.

Wasantha Yapa Bandara promptly declined his appointment to the CoPE as soon as it was announced in Parliament yesterday. Yapa announced his immediate resignation from the membership during his address in Parliament, citing the ongoing crisis as the reason. He also stated his intention to formally communicate his decision to the Speaker in writing.

In a statement announcing his decision Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MP Duminda Dissanayake articulated concerns regarding the transparency of CoPE and said they have prompted his decision to resign from its membership.

On Tuesday, seven MPs resigned from the CoPE. The resignations were sparked by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne’s resignation from the Committee on Monday.

Accordingly, MPs S.M. Marikkar, Nalin Bandara, Prof Charitha Herath, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Gamini Waleboda, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Hesha Withanage tendered their resignations on Tuesday. 

They expressed their inability to function as members of the CoPE under its current Chairman, Rohitha Abeygunawardena.