Appointing sectoral oversight committees further delayed

• Party leaders fail to agree on its composition
• Setting up of committees on Banking and financial services was also decided

  By Yohan Perera

The appointment of sectoral oversight committees has been further delayed with party leaders failing to agree on its composition and deciding to meet again to finalise members, Parliament media unit said yesterday.  Accordingly, no final decision has been made on the request that has been made by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella to appoint opposition MPs as chairpersons of some of the committees.

 The House unanimously agreed on setting up of sectoral committees on religious affairs and co-existence, reconciliation and national unity, national security, national economics and physical plans, international relations, increasing export of goods and services, alleviating the impact of economic crisis, energy and transport, food security and agriculture, environment national resources and sustainable development, education, foreign employment and labour, just and law-abiding society, children women and gender, media youth, heritage and new citizen and an open and accountable government.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena earlier requested all MPs to reach a conclusive decision on the committees. However, the business committee decided to finalise the matters on Friday.

Meanwhile, it has also been decided by the business committee to appoint a committee to look into the setting up of committees on Banking and financial services, economic stabilisation and a ways and means committee.