Wednesday Jul 23, 2008
KOTTE: Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told Parliament yesterday that COPE members will decide on the appointment of the COPE Chairman and the Government will not in anyway influence this appointment.

The Minister responding to a statement by National Freedom Front MP Piyasiri Wijenayake said the Government has no intention to exert influence on the democratic rights of COPE Committee Members to appoint their own Chairman.

According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, the appointment of the COPE Chairman should be decided by COPE members.

Therefore, COPE members will decide on the appointment of the COPE Chairman, the Minister said.

Wijenayake said a newspaper had reported that a Government Minister was to be appointed as the COPE Chairman.

This post should be given to the Opposition, he said. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said to ensure the powers of Parliament, there should be a right to inspect financial matters of Parliament.

A Government Minister cannot be appointed as the COPE Chairman. The COPE Chairman should be an MP, he said.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said during the UNP regime COPE Chairman’s post was given to the Opposition.

If the Government speaks about good governance, the COPE Chairman’s post should be given to the Opposition, he said.

National Freedom front MP Wimal Weerawansa questioned whether the names of any Government Ministers had been proposed for this post.

The Government has the majority power of COPE.

Author: Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe