NO COPE until further notice - Speaker

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Parliamentary Watchdog, the Committee on Public Enterprises or COPE, will not convene until further notice, announced the country's parliament speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

COPE Chairman Professor Ranjith Bandara has come under a barrage of criticism over his conduct during the recent session of the Committee on Public Enterprises where Sri Lanka Cricket and its operations were taken up for discussion.

The Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises was seen signalling to keep quiet during the recent inquiry into Sri Lanka Cricket.

Response by Ranjith Bandara:

Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Professor Ranjith Bandara responded to the allegations made against him.

In a statement, the COPE Chairman said that all members attended the session in question, and several other MPs also attended with special permission.

He said that the session took place with the utmost transparency, and with a large participation.

Professor Ranjith Bandara in his statement noted that it was difficult to control a large number of people when matters surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket, that have led to much criticism and discussion across all spheres was taken up, adding that he decided to use a hand signal as means to indicate to the MPs that one person must speak instead of all of them speaking at once.

He noted that he was disappointed that his actions were misinterpreted.

The Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises noted that when Thilanga Sumathipala chaired SLC in 2018, he was requested to produce a concept paper for the launch of a Cricket School.

He noted that the concept paper was prepared for a 'Colombo Business School', and he had agreed to provide consultancy services for the launch process.

Professor Ranjith Bandara stressed that he did not charge any fee for this purpose.

He added that if he had to charge a fee, it would be for providing a professional services, and that it was not an advance pay for the post that he is serving in today, and he added that he was disappointed that these events are being misinterpreted.

Opposition says cannot function under Bandara:

Opposition MPs have repeatedly stressed that it is impossible to serve under the present COPE Chairman.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said that a sudden COPE meeting was scheduled for Friday (17) afternoon, and stressed that opposition MPs will NOT be attending the meeting.

He alleged that the COPE meeting was summoned for 1 PM, the time when Muslims engage in Friday prayers, preventing MPs such as S. M. Marikkar and Rauff Hakeem, both COPE members, from attending the session.

At the same time, speaking in parliament, the opposition leader noted that the responsibility of monitoring the Chairperson of the Select Committee also lies with the Speaker, however, such action is not taken.