- Chief Govt. Whip conveys SLPP stance on Harsha as COPF Chair
While stating that former Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF), incumbent Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva is seeking to engage in party politics within the Committee, Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the Parliamentary Selection Committee should decide on the new Chairperson of the COPF following SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake’s resignation as the new Chair.
When queried by The Daily Morning following Dissanayake’s resignation as to whether the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will support the re-nomination of Dr. de Silva, Ranatunga said: “I don’t know. We have to ask all the members of the Selection Committee, not the party, as to whether they are going to agree to the name that will be proposed. The way in which de Silva handled the COPF is just him trying to engage in party politics in the Committee. That is what our members feel. We can hold the Standing Orders and appoint a member from our party, but we are of the view that we will not do so and that it should go to the Opposition. It should be a person who can take responsibility during this economic crisis and who can do good for the country and not for party politics. That is our view but we will see what happens”.
He further stated that he is unaware of whether the resignation letter by Dissanayake had reached Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, adding: “We have to discuss only after the letter reaches him.”
While denying that he had any deals with the Government or President and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Ranil Wickremesinghe to take up the Chairmanship of the COPF, Dissanayake stated on Monday (27 February) that he had decided to resign from the post.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, Chief Opposition Whip and SJB MP Attorney Lakshman Kiriella said on Monday that the Opposition intends to propose Dr. de Silva’s name for the post.
Meanwhile, addressing a media briefing on 26 February, Dr. de Silva said: “We were carrying out duties. It was 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 Dissanayake who was nominated by ruling Party MPs.
De Silva has claimed that it was his opposition to “political thieves” that had led to his political victimisation by being denied the COPF Chairmanship which he previously held.