COPE Chairman’s son Kanishka’s presence at meeting to be probed

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

In response to the disclosure that Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Professor Ranjith Bandara’s son Kanishka Bandara has participated in the committee meeting on Tuesday, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday assured that a probe would be conducted with regard to the matter.  

The Speaker noted that the presence of COPE Chairman’s son at the committee meeting was wrong.  

“It is wrong if the COPE Chairman’s son Kanishka Bandara participated in the committee meeting on Tuesday. It has been informed that he has come in the capacity of Professor Bandara’s media officer. A probe will be conducted into the matter anyway,” the Speaker said in response to questions raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and other opposition members.  

MP Premadasa alleged that someone who called him from overseas had informed him that Professor Bandara’s son participated in the COPE meeting on Tuesday. “Someone called me from overseas and told me that Professor Bandara’s son was at the COPE meeting. I said I don’t know him personally. However my privileges are violated as I was not allowed to speak at the committee on public finances on an earlier occasion,” Mr. Premadasa said. 

 
Opposition MP Dayasiri Jaysekera said he and other opposition members would keep away from COPE if Professor Bandara is allowed to chair the probe on Sri Lanka cricket (SLC). “There is no point in carrying out a probe on SLC if Professor Bandara continues to chair meetings.  

SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha questioned as to why a press officer of a COPE member was allowed to participate in the committee meeting when media is barred from covering the meetings.  

Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga said it was unfair to attack an MP when he is not in the chamber to respond.  

• SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha questioned as to why a press officer of a COPE member was allowed to participate in the committee meeting when media is barred from covering the meetings