Allegation of sexual bribe: COPE Chairman asks for Privileges Committee probe

Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Prof Ranjith Bandara yesterday denied the Opposition’s claim that he had sought sexual bribes.

“If proven guilty, I am ready to resign from the post of COPE Chairman,” Prof Bandara told Parliament. He said that the latest allegation had been levelled by the Opposition MPs while he was not present in the House. The Opposition had vioalted his parliamentary privileges, Prof Bandara said, adding that he had received a notice from the Speaker pertaining to this allegation by the Opposition MPs.

“I call on the Speaker to conduct a proper investigation into this allegation. I propose that the investigation be conducted at the Privileges Committee. I am ready to resign if I am found guilty by the Committee and expect that the MPs who raised this allegation would be punished for violating my parliamentary privileges,” Prof Bandara said.