Speaker: Opp. Leader can summon public officials to ascertain information

… frowns on Premadasa’s presence at COPF meeting

By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told Parliament yesterday that the Leader of the Opposition could summon state officials to seek clarifications on any matter any time, but could not attend committee meetings and question officials at such fora.

Making a special statement on the presence of Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa at a recent meeting of the Committee on Public Finance

(COPF) where the domestic debt restructuring programme was taken up for discussions, the Speaker said it was not appropriate.

Premadasa said he had attended the COPF meeting to question relevant state officials on the impact which the domestic debt restructuring would have on the EPF and ETF.

“I wanted specific information on domestic debt restructuring and would have got important information if I had got the opportunity to question the officials. I will, therefore, summon all government officials from now on, and if they don’t turn up my privileges will be violated. I’ therefore, state that the Speaker will be responsible if my privileges are violated,” he said.