Ranil wants COPA to play wider role

By Saman Indrajith

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday requested the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to present a report on State debt and debt servicing to the House, at the beginning of each month.

Wickremesinghe told Parliament that the House had control over the country’s public finance.

“I have requested information on certain matters on earlier occasions. However, I am yet to get that information. It is reported that Sri Lanka’s reserves have slumped to below USD 1 Billion. Therefore, I request the COPA to prepare a report over State debt and debt servicing, so we will be able to get a realistic picture about the country’s economy,” he said.

The former PM again requested the Government to hold a parliamentary debate over the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) report on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said Wickremesinghe was very well aware that a Mid-year Financial report is presented to Parliament from a long time.

“Now, are you telling us that monthly reports should be presented instead of the mid-year report? The COPA cannot report back to Parliament like that. If you want monthly reports then some provisions have to be made in Parliament. The Opposition has the right to go for an Adjournment Debate and the ministers and Government MPs will respond to your questions. All these matters could be discussed at an Adjournment debate,” he said.