• Demands increase in representation; Chief Oppo. Whip claims no positive response from Prez/Spkr.

The Parliamentary Opposition is to refrain from appointing representatives or officially participating in several Parliamentary committees, including the Committee on Parliamentary Business, until their (the Opposition’s) representation in such committees is increased, according to Chief Opposition Whip, Parliamentarian Gayantha Karunathilleka.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (14), he said that while the Opposition requested the relevant authorities including the President and both former and incumbent Speakers of the Parliament that the Opposition’s representation in committees such as the Parliamentary Business Committee, the Committee on Public Enterprises, and the Committee on Public Accounts be increased, there had been no favourable response.

“The Opposition Leader and Chief Opposition Whip can officially attend the Parliamentary Business Committee. However, only four other Opposition MPs are allowed to be appointed to it. In the previous Parliament, with just six political parties in the Opposition, 10 Opposition MPs were in this Committee. Now, with 12 political parties in the Opposition, the current representation of four is insufficient. We raised this issue with the former Speaker Ashoka Ranwala. After his resignation, we discussed it with the current Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, and he said that he would study the matter. We also met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the Parliament, and he said that we would be provided with a flexible solution. However, nothing has happened yet,” he said.

Noting that the Opposition has named representatives only to the Committee on Public Finance, Chaired by Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, and the Consultative Committees, Karunathilleka stated that they would not appoint representatives to the other committees until the issue of representation is resolved. He further said that many Opposition MPs are keenly interested in the subjects handled by various Parliamentary committees, assuring that the Opposition would contribute actively and provide the necessary support to these committees once their representation is increased.

Dr. Wickramaratne and Government Spokesperson, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa were not available for comment.