The Opposition accused the Government of being caught in an apparent blend of arrogance and ignorance, and going back on their own word, by attempting to have a monopoly on key Parliament committees.
The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) stated that the entire Opposition will not attend the meetings of the Parliament corruption watchdog, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), as the NPP Government is determined to have the lion’s share of the committee.
This tug-of-war between the Government and Opposition – some fear – would undermine the findings of COPE in the future.
“This was not witnessed even during the governments headed by the worst and most corrupt Presidents in the past decade or so. The Opposition was granted ample, if not majority slots in these committees,” he elaborated.
The duty of the Committee is to report to Parliament on accounts examined, budgets and estimates, financial procedures, performance and management of Corporations and other Government Business Undertakings.
When contacted, an SLPP senior said they submitted D.V. Chanaka’s name for COPE but would stand in solidarity with others in the Opposition.
Meanwhile, the Opposition MPs also alleged that the same fate was suffered by various other special committees as well, with the Government wanting majority slots and leadership of these committees.
Interestingly, the inaugural meeting of the Parliamentary Caucus for Open Parliament Initiative, which was reinstated for the 10th Parliament, took place on Wednesday (8) at Parliament premises, where Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam were elected as Co-Chairs of this caucus.
Accordingly, the name of Minister Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena as Co-Chair of the caucus was proposed by MP Dr. Janaka Senarathna and seconded by Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath. The name of MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam was proposed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and seconded by MP Nalin Bandara.