Issues relating to the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) will be addressed at the upcoming meeting this week, according to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, the Speaker said that all concerns would be thoroughly discussed during the meeting scheduled for this week.

On 17 November, the Speaker announced the cancellation of all COPE meetings until further notice, stating that the committee would not convene until matters regarding its Chairman had been resolved. 

The Speaker also said that the final decision on the COPE’s future would be made by its members, adhering to the necessary powers and parliamentary protocol.

The decision to suspend COPE meetings came after Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa alleged that a meeting scheduled on 17 November at 1 p.m. had been deliberately timed to prevent two Muslim members, S.M. Marikkar and Rauff Hakeem, from attending due to Friday prayers.

The Speaker, in response to the claims, took the step to suspend COPE meetings until further notice.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella urged the Speaker to find a non-political solution to the issues surrounding COPE.

Concerns had been raised about the actions of COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara, particularly in relation to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). 

Prof. Bandara has however denied allegations levelled against him.

Additionally, it was revealed that a private firm led by him had offered services to the SLC between 2017 and 2018.

The presence of Prof. Bandara’s son, Kanishka Bandara, at the recent COPE meeting with the SLC had raised further concerns, leading to Opposition members questioning a potential violation of parliamentary privileges.