Ex-heads of House watchdog committees re-appointed

By Saman Indrajith

Prof. Charitha Herath, Prof. Tissa Vitharana and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, all members of SLPP, were re-appointed as heads of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), Committee of Public accounts (COPA) and Committee on Public Finance (COPF), respectively.

Prof. Charitha Herath received the appointment yesterday (10) when the COPE met at the Parliamentary complex. Prof Herath’s name was proposed to the chairman post by Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd.) Sarath Weerasekera and it was seconded by SLPP MP Susil Premajayantha.

COPE comprises 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.

Anura Priyadharshana Yapa has received hos appointment on Feb 8.. He was re-elected at the first meeting of COPF held for the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament. His name was nominated by SLPP MP Prof. Ranjith Bandara.

Prof. Tissa Vitharana was elected as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) for the Second Session of the ninth Parliament. Prof. Tissa Vitharana’s name was proposed by State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and seconded by MP Ashok Abeysinghe   at the inaugural committee meeting of the second session of ninth Parliament held yesterday (10) at the Parliament premises.

Prof. Tissa Vitharana also served as the Chairman of the COPA during the first session of the ninth Parliament.

The Committee Members were recently appointed by the Committee of Selection in accordance with Standing Order 119 (1) of Parliament. Accordingly, Minister Udaya Gammanpila, State Ministers Duminda Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Shehan Semasinghe, Prasanna Ranaweera, MPs Tissa Attanayake, Harin Fernando, Niroshan Perera, Ashok Abeysinghe, Buddhika Pathirana, K. Kader Masthan, Mohomad Muzammil, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Hesha Withanage, Dr Upul Galappaththi, B. Y. G. Rathnasekara, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Prof.) Ranjith Bandara and Dr Harini Amarasuriya are the members of the committee.

It is the duty of the Committee on Public Accounts with the assistance of the Auditor General to examine the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure and such other accounts laid before Parliament as the Committee may think fit.

Minister Udaya Gammanpila, State Ministers Duminda Dissanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Shehan Semasinghe, Prasanna Ranaweera, MPs Tissa Attanayake, Niroshan Perera, Ashok Abeysinghe, Mohomad Muzammil, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Dr Upul Galappaththi, B. Y. G. Rathnasekara, Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Prof Ranjith Bandara were present at the committee meeting held today at Parliament.