SJB exposes RW Govt.’s corruption cover up

SJB MPs Kabir Hashim (left) and Eran Wickramaratne gesture during their briefing to the media yesterday – Pix by Lasantha Kumara

• Opines Govt. lost a golden opportunity to demonstrate will to fight corruption
• Questions if appointment of Govt. MP as COPE Chairman is to protect thieves
• Vows to mobilise people against corruption

By Darshana Abayasingha

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday questioned whether the appointment of Government MP as head of COPE was to protect thieves and lamented that President Ranil Wickremesinghe-led administration lost a golden opportunity to fight corruption.

SJB said tradition and governance prescribes that Parliamentary committees be headed by members of the Opposition, but the Government has once again demonstrated its disregard for these key elements with the appointment of a ruling party member Prof. Ranjith Bandara as Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

SJB MP Kabir Hashim told journalists that the Opposition had impressed upon the Government and President to appoint an Opposition member as Chairman to such committees but this request fell on deaf ears once again. 

“This had begun in 2005 under the Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa, and this Government has continued this precedent despite its dismal performance in economic management and corruption,” he added. 

Hashim said Opposition parties had agreed to appoint SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne, as Chairman of the COPE. The SJB stressed it’s not a question of the person but rather a matter of principle. 

Commenting on the resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN sessions in Geneva, Hashim added the Government missed a golden opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to improving governance by not appointing Opposition members to head the COPE.

Eran Wickramaratne questioned if the Government, which previously said the chairmanships of the COPE and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) would be given to the Opposition, has now reversed that decision to protect thieves. 

“The fact that the President is trapped by this Government, unable to do anything, was proved by his inability to submit the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution as promised, to the Parliament,” Wickramaratne said, adding that Government MPs are now divided and busy debating the 22nd Amendment. 

“The country is being undermined in front of the international community, it is falling into an economic abyss. It becomes clear what the need of the Government is when a member of the Government is appointed as the chairman of the COPE Committee. 

“The Opposition will mobilise the people against corruption and irregularities of the Government. The whole country knows the problems in the country’s oil and coal procurement during this crisis,” Wickramaratne added.