By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

Heated arguments were witnessed in Parliament yesterday over an earlier request made by the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa to appoint SJB members as chairpersons in main committees in the House, assurance given by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the non-implementation of the request.   

“I requested the Prime Minister to appoint SJB MPs as chairpersons of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) and Committee on Public Finance. I have requested MPs Kabir Hashim, Eran Wickramaratne and Harsha de Silva as chairpersons of these committees and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe responded positively. However, it is yet to be implemented. Please remind the Prime Minister on the matter,” Mr. Premadasa told Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.   

The arguments heated up when Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella accused the Speaker of playing an underhand game and preventing opposition MPs from getting appointed as chairpersons of committees. “You still hold the chairmanship of a district development committee. How can you hold this post while being the Speaker? You have destroyed Parliament,” he told the Speaker.   

“Do not make false allegations against me,” the Speaker said.   

Chairman of COPE Charitha Herath said he is prepared to resign at any time. “I am prepared to resign any time. However, members of COPE should work independently without taking party lines,” he said.