Charitha, Tissa renamed members of COPE, COPA

By Saman Indrajith

Former Chairmen of Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Prof. Charitha Herath and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) Prof. Tissa Vitharana have been reappionted to the watchdog committees. The prorogation of Parliament in December 2021 prompted the Opposition to ask whether the move was meant to cripple COPE, COPA and the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) due to them taking a strong stand against waste, corruption and irregularities in the public sector. Prof. Herath headed the COPF. Members haven’t been named to COPF yet.

Members were appointed to eight parliamentary committees including the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) yesterday.

The committees are to meet to appoint chairpersons for them in the coming days.

Deputy Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya yesterday announced the names of the MPs appointed to the new committees including the Public Petitions Committee, Backbencher Committee, House Committee, Standing Orders Committee, Legislative Standing Committee and Ethics and Privileges Committee.

The new members for the COPE are as follows: Prof Charitha Herath, Sagara Kariyawasam, Madhura Withanage, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Premanath C. Dolawatte, S. M. Marikkar, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Jagath Pushpakumara, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Anura Dissanayake, Susil Premajayantha, Rauff Hakeem, Dr Nalaka Godahewa, Indika Anuruddha Herath, D.V. Chanaka, Jayantha Samaraweera, Rear Admiral (Retd) Sarath Weerasekera, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Mahinda Amaraweera.

The following MPs have been appointed to the COPA: Prof Tissa Vitarana, Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Prof Ranjith Bandara, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, B.Y.G. Rathnasekera, Dr. Upul Galappatti, Hesha Withanage, S. Sritharan, Mohomed Muzammil, K. Kader Masthan, Buddhika Pathirana, Ashok Abeysinghe, Niroshan Perera, Harin Fernando, Tissa Attanayake, Prasanna Ranaweera, Shehan Semasinghe, Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Dayasiri Jayasekera, Duminda Dissanayake and Udaya Gammanpila.

Following are the members to serve in the Ethics and Privileges Committee: M.U.M. Ali Sabry, Vijitha Berugoda, Kanaka Herath, Tharaka Balasuriya, Anuradha Jayaratne, Kabir Hashim, R.M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Thalatha Atukorale, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Velu Kumar, Kokila Gunawardene, Shan Vijayalal de Silva, Genvindu Cumaratunga, Prof. Ranjith Bandara and Premitha Bandara Tennakoon.

New House Committee comprises Nimal Lanza, Kanchana Wijesekera, Piyal Nishantha de Silva, Dr. Seetha Arambepola, Dr. V. Radhakrsihnan, J.C. Alawathuwala, Charles Nirmalanathan, Maj. (retd) Pradeep Undugoda, Jagath Kumara Sumthirarachchi, Kings Nelson, Mudhita Prishanthi, Nalin Fernando, Marjan Faleel and Madhura Withanage.

In addition to the Chief Whips of the government and Opposition, the following MPs have been selected to serve in the Backbencher Committee S Noharathalingam, Selvarajaj Kajendran, Waruna Liyanage, Kapila Atukorale, M Udayakumar, Sanjeeva Edirimanna, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, Sudarshana Denipitiya, W.H.M. Dharmasena, Kings Nelson, Rohana Bandara, Kumarasiri Ratnayake, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, D Weerasinghe and Manjula Dissanayake.

Committee on Standing Orders comprises of Pavithra Wannairachchi, Dr Suren Ragahawan, Sagara Kariyawasam, K. Sujuth Sanjaya Perera, Charles Nirmalanathan, Chandima Weerakkody, Dilan Perera, and Susil Premajayantha.

Members for the Legislative Standing Committee of which the Deputy Speaker would serve as the Chairperson are as follows: Prof G.L. Peiris, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Namal Rajapaksa, Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, Sisira Jayakody, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Chandima Weerakkody, Govindan Karunakaram, Hector Appuahamy, Imran Maharoof, Harshana Rajakaruna, Premanath C. Dolawatte, Madhura Withanage, Sagara Kariyawasam and Jayantha Weerasinghe PC.