Finance Committee Chair Harsha cries foul over Vajira’s appointment

By Yohan Perera  

The tussle for the Chairmanship of Public Finance Committee has taken a new turn with the appointment of UNP MP Vajira Abeywardena on the temporary basis and SJB MP Harsha De Silva alleging that the appointment is a violation of standing orders.   

“ The appointment of Vajira Abeywardena to the post is a violation of standing orders as the chairman should be from the opposition. The government had made a mess of it by nominating an MP from the opposition to the post right from the beginning. There is no provision to appoint an acting chairman to the post as per the standing orders, MP. De Silva said.  
MP De Silva said Speaker has no say on the matter as it is the opposition which has the right to nominate a chairman.   

“ The position I am in today was achieved by my own efforts and not because of my father and mother. My father was a public servant but me and my father are different people and he has nothing to do with my achievements,” he added.   

SJB MP Mayantha Dissanayake who was initially appointed as the chairman of finance Committee earlier said those who argue that he is not capable of holding the post of finance Committee Chairman got it wrong as his father the late Gamini Dissanayake was able to complete the Mahaweli project successfully without being an engineer. Dissanayake also said he would always follow his father’s footsteps.   

The final decision pertaining to the finance Committee chairmanship will be taken on Tuesday March 7. 2023.