Mayantha resigns from COPF chairmanship

• Says he decided to resign as there was no unity among the members of the Public Finance Committee

 By Yohan Perera   

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mayantha Dissanayake yesterday submitted his resignation from the Public Finance Committee to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.   

He told a news conference that he decided to submit his resignation as there was no unity among the members of the finance committee. Also he mentioned that his belief is that the entire opposition should work together.    

“I decided to submit my resignation as there is no unity among the members of the Public Finance Committee and also it is my duty to obey the party leader no matter whether he is right or wrong. My late father Gamini Dissanayake always thought us that one must listen to the party leader whether he is right or wrong,” Dissanayake said.   

“I want to remind those who questioned my appointment that I have chaired the finance committee from 2015 to 2019 during the absence of then Chairman M. A. Sumanthiran. Also I must recall that my father successfully completed the Mahaweli project without being an engineer. Also late President Ranasinghe Premadasa who was never an engineer was successful in his housing projects. Some sling mud at me saying I am to join the government. However I don’t have such intentions,” he added.  

Dissanayake was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance by the Committee of Selections last week despite the nomination of SJB MP Harsha De Silva for the post by the opposition.

• Some sling mud at me saying I am to join the government. However I don’t have such intentions