By Shamindra Ferdinando

National Freedom Front (NFF) MP Gamini Waleboda yesterday (16) said that the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) should re-examine its stand on the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) without delay or face the consequences.

Ratnapura District MP Waleboda, who contested the last parliamentary election on the SLPP ticket, alleged that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government had caused irreparable damage by disrupting the vital House Watchdog Committee.

MP Waleboda emphasised that the appointment of Kalutara District MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena as Chairman of that Committee was meant to cause chaos. That despicable political move was intended to compel the Opposition to quit the Committee, MP Waleboda said, adding that the Opposition reached a consensus on naming him as the COPE head after the prorogation of Parliament necessitated fresh appointments to the Committee.

MP Waleboda said that in spite of SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s declaration that those who had represented the Opposition at the time of the prorogation of Parliament would be reappointed, he was accommodated in place of Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri who resigned on January 09. At the time of Wijesiri’s resignation, he served the COPE.

COPE comprised 18 government and 12 Opposition MPs. Lawmaker Waleboda said that he could muster only eight out of 12 Opposition votes whereas MP Abeygunawardena secured 12 out of 18 at the vote held on March 7.

Responding to another query, MP Waleboda said that the JVP, backed his candidature and its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was even ready to endorse his name though he represented the breakaway JVP faction.

MP Waleboda said that today the COPE was nothing but a tool in the SLPP’s hands. The following Opposition MPs were named to COPE: Anura Dissanayaka, Rauff Hakeem, Dilan Perera, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Eran Wickramaratne, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S.M. Marikkar, Hesha Withanage, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, Gamini Waleboda and Prof. Charitha Herath.

MP Waleboda said that in the run-up to the vote, he personally sought the backing of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as he felt confident in leading the COPE. MP Waleboda said that he was fully qualified to take charge of the vital body though the SLPP sabotaged his plans.

Lawmaker Waleboda said that President Wickremesinghe without hesitation assured he didn’t have any issue with the NFF MP’s move whereas the Prime Minister’s Office swiftly directed government members to ensure MP Abeygunawardena’s victory. According to him, NFF National List MP Mohammed Muzammil accompanied him for his meeting with the Prime Minister. “I explained to him that appointing a qualified person to that post will be beneficial to the SLPP and the government. Unfortunately, the Premier appeared to have not felt the same way.”

Asked whether he sought the SLPP’s consent in this regard, MP Waleboda said that he personally briefed the General Secretary of the party, Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam, to seek their blessings.

MP Waleboda said that he later realized that the SLPP would have fielded MP Jonhston Fernando if MP Abeygunawardena was not available.

Lawmaker Waleboda said that there was no need to repeat what caused the unprecedented crisis in COPE last year. The MP was referring to accusations and counter-accusations over the then COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara’s shady relationship with the disgraced Sri Lanka Cricket administration.

MP Waleboda compared the ruination of COPE with the defeating of the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) moved against the then Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella last September.

The Opposition MP said that those incidents would have far reaching consequences. According to MP Waleboda, several government MPs skipped the March 7 vote because they felt the party was committing yet another mistake.

How could they appoint a person investigated by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) to such a post? MP Waleboda asked.