Opposition Leader cannot attend committee meetings and question state officials: Speaker

The Leader of the Opposition can summon state officials and seek clarifications on any matter at any time, but he cannot attend commitee meetings and question them, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament today.

The Speaker who gave the ruling on Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa attending the meeting of the Committee on Public Finance ( COPF) on June 30 when the domestic debt restructuring programme was taken for discussions, said Mr. Premadasa's presence at the COPF meeting was not appropriate.