Heated arguments in Parliament after Mayantha appointed COPF chairman

Heated arguments flared up in Parliament after the committee of selections appointed SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake as Public Finance Committee Chairman today.

MP Harsha de Silva who was tipped to be the chairman of the public finance committee earlier said it was an act of the ruling party denying the services of the opposition.

“Government wanted our services and I agreed to provide services as the chairperson of the Finance Committee. However as I see now the government does not want the opposition's support. I can very well be without this position but it is clear how the government behaves,” he said.

“This shows that the government wants someone whom they can control as the chairman as the Finance committee chief,” he told Daily Mirror later.

MPs Harshana Rajakaruna and Asok Abeysinghe argued that the committee of selections can only approve the name that has been already nominated.

"Committee of Selections does not have the power to appoint someone new,” Rajakaruna said. Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga said the standing orders only says that someone from the opposition should head the finance committee and that is what the committee of selections has done. "Opposition should not mislead the public,” he said. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)