MPs demand probe into COPE Chief’s conduct at meeting with SLC bigwigs

Prof. Bandara denies allegations as baseless

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday told Parliament that Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Prof Ranjith Bandara had tried to cover up Sri Lanka Cricket’s frauds and corruption, during a meeting with SLC officials on Tuesday.

Premadasa said that the video recording of the COPE session on SLC held on Tuesday showed that the COPE Chairman prevented MPs from questioning SLC officials and gave SLC representatives cues to refrain from disclosing some information.

Premadasa urged the Speaker to investigate the matter, pointing out that the actions of the COPE Chairman had violated the rights and privileges of the other members of the COPE Committee.

Premadasa said: “The COPE Chairman used cues to make SLC members skip questions raised by MPs at Tuesday’s meeting. This is clearly visible in the videos that are being circulated via social media,” Premadasa said.

“The COPE Chairman uses his position to manipulate the testimonies by the witnesses at the COPE meetings. He has violated the privileges of not only MPs Hesha Withanage and S.M. Marikkar but also all members of this House. This matter needed to be investigated,” the Opposition Leader said.

SJB MPs Withanage, Marikkar, Chaminda Wijesiri and Nalin Bandara, speaking after the Opposition leader, claimed that the COPE Chairman had acted in a manner that was favourable to the SLC officials and demanded action against him.

A section of SLC representatives appearing before the parliamentary watchdog committee (pic courtesy parliament)

SJB MP Hesha Vithanage said Prof. Bandara should not be allowed to chair future meetings with SLC. “I request the Speaker to watch the video footage of Tuesday’s COPE session.

MP Marikar said he and some other members of COPE would not attend COPE meetings chaired by Prof. Bandara. “The COPE Chairman is appointed out of all the MPs named to be in that committee. Every member of the committee has a right to ask questions. The incumbent Chairman has not acted impartially. We once asked in writing to summon officials and conduct a probe into a controversial fertilizer shipment, but the Chairman has not complied with our request. We have been asking him to summon the representatives of gas companies and the CPC, but in vain. We make our requests on the basis of the Auditor General’s reports.”

Kuruengala District SJB MP Nalin Bandara said that the video showing COPE Chairman’s conduct had gone viral on the Internet. “The COPE Chairman on Tuesday used his powers to prevent the MPs from raising questions. He should be removed immediately,” MP Bandara said. “We may need another committee to probe the conduct of the COPE Chairman.”

SJB Badulla District MP Chaminda Wijesiri accused Prof Bandara of violating the privileges of COPE members. “The COPE Chairman could be dealt with under Section 18 of the Privileges Act. As per this Act, the Speaker is empowered to take actions in respect of matters of this nature. The Speaker can remove the COPE Chairman and get the committee to elect a new head,” MP Wijesiri said.

Government MP Premnath C Dolawatte, too, spoke in favour of the Opposition MPs’ proposal. He said the government wil not object if the Opposition MPs move a motion to remove the incumbent COPE Chairman. I, too, saw the video and it is clear that the concerns raised by the Opposition MPs are genuine. The incumbent Chairman could be suspended for the probe to be conducted on Nov 27, 28 and 29,”MP Dolawatte said.

Chairman Prof Ranjith Bandara denied the allegations. He insisted that he had only signalled them to speak one at a time. He said that the COPE needed to function independently without political interference and accused the Opposition members of trying to politicise the probe.