TNA, JVP and Dullas faction cold shoulder National Council

The TNA, JVP and Dullas Alahapperuma factions have abstained naming their representatives to the National Council, it was revealed when Speaker Mahina Yapa Abeywardene announced its composition on Friday.Leaders of other political parties represented in the ninth Parliament submitted the names of their party nominees to the newly formed council.  The Speaker announced the composition of the council which will be chaired by him and include the Prime Minister, Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Government Whip, and other MPs.

The Council will compruises Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Dinesh Gunawardena, Sajith Premadasa, Prasanna Ranatunga, Douglas Devananda, Naseer Ahamed, Tiran Alles, Sisira Jayakody, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Johnston Fernando, Rauff Hakeem, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Wajira Abeywardena, L.A.L.M Athaulla, Tissa Vitarana, Rishad Bathiudeen, Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Palani Digambaram, Mano Ganesan, Udaya Gammanpila, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Namal Rajapaksa, Jeevan Thondaman, G.G Ponnambalam, Athuraleiya Rathana Thero, Asanka Navaratne, Ali Sabry Raheem, C.V. Wigneswaran, Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Sagara Kariyawasam.

The resolution proposed by the Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to constitute a Parliamentary Committee called the “National Council” was passed without objection.The National Council will have the jurisdiction and general responsibilities in order to,

(i) determine the general priorities of Parliament to guide the formulation of short, medium and long-term national policies

(ii) agree on short and medium-term common minimum programs in respect of the stabilization of the economy

(iii) arrange special meetings with the Ministers of the Cabinet, the National Council, the Chairpersons of the Special Committees and Youth observers of Youth Organizations

The National Council will be empowered to request reports from Sectoral Oversight Committees, Committee on Public Finance, Committee on Public Accounts, Committee on Public Enterprises, Committee on Banking and Financial Services, Committee on Ways and Means, Committee on Economic Stabilization; and any committee controlling the public finance. The quorum of this National Council shall be 10 members.