• UNP’s Vajira Abeywardena appointed Acting Chair
• Speaker receives Mayantha’s resignation
• Selection Committee to meet on 4 April to decide permanent Chair

Heated arguments erupted yesterday (7) in Parliament over the appointment of United National Party (UNP) Government MP Vajira Abeywardena as the Acting Chair of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) following the post of the Chairperson being rendered vacant following the resignation of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Opposition MP Mayantha Dissanayake.

While stating that Dissanayake had informed him in writing of his decision to resign as the Chair of the COPF, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana yesterday informed that the Parliamentary Selection Committee would convene on 4 April to appoint a new Chairperson. 

Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said in Parliament yesterday that the appointment of Abeywardena as Acting Chairman of the COPF is not in accordance with the Standing Orders. 

“The relevant Standing Order is being intentionally violated. How can a Government MP become an Acting Chairperson? The spirit of the section of the relevant Standing Order is that it should always be a member of the Opposition. This is an action ruining the good reputation of the Parliament. Please change this. We saw in the newspapers and websites, but we have not been informed that the COPF had been convened and has appointed Abeywardena as Acting Chairman. According to Standing Orders 121/1, an Opposition MP should be appointed, even if it is a temporary appointment. At first, the COPF Chairpersonship was not given to us but to a Government nominee. But after that, for a brief period, it was given to us”.

Responding to claims made by the Opposition, Vajira Abeywardena said in Parliament yesterday that he was appointed as the Acting Chairman according to the provisions of Standing Order 121/1 and constitutional provisions. “We got to know about the resignation of the Chairman through a media report. During this time, the Chairman should inform the Speaker in writing regarding the resignation. But, as it was fixed by Dissanayake, the COPF was convened, and when a chairperson has not arrived or was unavailable, another MP who is a member of the COPF should take up the Chair, according to which, Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka’s name was nominated, but he refused to take up the duties and responsibilities. Since Dissanayake resigned, my name was nominated and confirmed. According to the Constitution and the Standing Orders, the Committee proceedings were concluded. Although there were false statements in the media, we all should remember that Parliamentary Committee activities should not be carried out for political purposes. However, the reason for this is the behaviour of the former Chairman (a reference to SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva). For example, by providing the Chairpersonship to an Opposition MP, the Government expects to carry out finance-related matters in a balanced manner”. 

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said in Parliament yesterday: “The Chairmanship of the COPF can be borne by any MP. It doesn’t have to be Dr. de Silva. When Dissanayake is appointed, removing him from that position is a problem within the party. After that, when Ranawaka was named, he refused to accept it.”

Meanwhile, on 27 February, while denying that he had any deals with the Government or President Ranil Wickremesinghe to take up the Chairmanship of the COPF, Dissanayake stated that he had decided to resign from the post. Addressing the media, Dissanayake further stated: “I accepted this position to reach a consensus on common grounds. Following discussions with our Leader (a reference to Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa), I have decided to resign as the Chairman of the COPF. I tried to reach the Speaker but I couldn’t, and therefore, I will hand over the letter of resignation to him. These positions are not new to me. Leaving such positions is not difficult for me. I can easily leave it. I want to remind the people that I follow in the footsteps of my father Gamini Dissanayake.”

Meanwhile, addressing a media briefing on 26 February, Dr. de Silva said: “We were carrying out duties. It was, however, immediately disrupted. With the agreement of all our Party MPs, my name was nominated. But, this was complicated by some papers stating that some MPs did not agree with that. Total lies. It was with the agreement of all the MPs that the Chief Opposition Whip nominated this name at the Selection Committee.”

The COPF met for the first time on 23 February under the patronage of newly appointed Chairman Dissanayake. Dissanayake was nominated by the ruling party MPs of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.