Opposition sees conflict of interest in appointing Pavithra to head PSC probing Nilwala salinity barrier

By Saman Indrajith

Opposition MPs yesterday expressed their displeasure at appointing Pavithra Wanniarachchi as the chairperson of the special parliamentary select committee appointed to probe the issues pertaining to constructing a salinity barrier across the Nilwala Ganga in Matara.

Opposition MPs demanded that an MP from the Opposition be appointed the chairman of the committee because appointing an incumbent subject minister of Irrigation would lead to a conflict of interest.

Soon after Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed the House of the appointment of the PSC, headed by Minister Wanniarachchi, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said that the issues related to the problems faced by farmers of the Matara District because of the moves to construct a salinity barrier across the Nilwala River were raised by the Opposition MPs time to time. “Our MPs are aware of these issues and grievances of farmers. Therefore, the chairperson post of this PSC should be given to an Opposition MP,” Premadasa said.

The Speaker: Pavithra is the most senior member in this group of MPs and that is why she has been appointed to the post.

Matara District SLPP dissident MP Dullas Alahapperuma said that there would be a conflict of interest when the Minister of Irrigation was appointed to investigate this issue. How could there be an impartial, independent investigation when the subject minister is appointed to head the probe of the very same Ministry accused of delays and unjust moves. “We agree with the Opposition Leader’s position in this regard. We demand that an MP from the Opposition should be appointed to this post to give justice to Matara District farmers who have been suffering for more than eight seasons. We must follow the example set by the President’s Sectoral Oversight committees which do not appoint the subject minister or state minister for the subject to be oversighted,” Alahapperuma said.

Matara District SJB MP Buddhika Pathirana: We have nothing against Pavithra Wanniarachchi personally. But appointing her to head the PSC would result in loss of the very same purpose of forming the PSC.

Other members in the PSC are Mahinda Amaraweera, Kanchana Wijesekera, Mohan Priyadarshana Silva, Sashindra Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Chamal Rajapaksa, CB Ratnayake, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dilip Wedarachchi, Buddhika Pathirana, Hesha Withanage, Sampath Atukorala, Karunadasa Kodithuwakku, Upul Galappaththi, Shan Wijelala de Silva, Kings Nelson, Nipuna Ranawaka and Weerasumana Weerasinghe.