Harsha appointed COPF head at last

SJB MP and economist Dr. Harsha de Silva had been appointed Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) following a proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, parliament sources said yesterday.

The development follows months of controversy around the ruling SLPP allegedly blocking de Silva’s appointment to the post, despite the President having agreed to it.

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premdasa told parliament on 25 May that the President had conveyed names of SJB legislators de Silva and Kabir Hashim at a meeting attended by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha that he is agreeable to the appointment.

Responding to Premadasa, Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga said while the president had indeed agreed to de Silva’s appointment, government MPs in the COPF had expressed concern.