COPE meetings suspended

•  Decision made due to new allegations against its Chairman

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana yesterday decided to suspend COPE meetings after more allegations began to flow in against its Chairman Ranjith Bandara while more requests were made by MPs to remove him from the post. The decision was made after opposition MPs came up with more complaints against the COPE Chairman.
Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa earlier revealed in the House that Colombo Business School headed by Professor Bandara had got into a business deal with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Also, he tabled a statement issued by the Sri Lanka Audit Services Association, which has made some allegations against the COPE Chief. “COPE chief has been found to have mishandled investigations while he had refrained from issuing recommendations which he should have made as per the statement issued from Audit Services Association,” Mr. Premadasa said. National People’s Power (NPP) MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake also requested the Speaker to remove Professor Bandara. “Professor Bandara should be kept away from the probe on Sri Lanka Cricket at least,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker turned down the request made by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella to allow COPE to meet yesterday afternoon to decide on the fate of its chairman. “You are trying to delay things for political reasons,” Kiriella said.

“COPE members will be allowed to resolve the issue as per the standing orders,” the Speaker responded at that time.