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Last Updated : 2024-04-29 20:42:00
21 March 2024 04:20 pm - 60 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera
Parliament, March 21 (Daily Mirror)- COPE Chairman MP Rohitha Abeygunawardane asked today if he was fit to be elected as a Member of Parliament, why he cannot function as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).
Abeygunawardane told Parliament that Standing Orders must include qualifications required to hold the Chairmanship of Parliamentary Committees such as COPE and COPA.
“We must include in Standing Orders the educational qualifications required to hold the Chairmanship of the COPE, COPA and other committees. Being an MP alone is not sufficient to become a Chair of a Committee. I was elected to Parliament by the people of the Kalutara District. If I am fit to be elected as an MP, why can’t I function as COPE Chair? When I was elected COPE Chair, the opposition hurled allegations against me,” he said.
The MP said he was elected the COPE Chair with a majority vote by the members of the COPE itself and that the Opposition members were resigning from COPE as the person they wanted was not elected.
He said he will carry out his duties as the COPE chair despite challenges.
Kandaih Balendran Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:27 PM
As Sajith to release his OL certificate to compare.
Gold digger Friday, 22 March 2024 12:07 AM
Idiotic people of Kalutara voted for you as an MP and now the whole nation is suffering. You should also resign as a protest.
Kishu Gomes Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:29 PM
Caste problem, because bond scam beneficiaries like Ranil, Sajith, Harsha say so.
Voters were Brainwashed to Vote for you Friday, 22 March 2024 07:22 AM
You were voted into parliament by voters who were in dreamland. Challenge you to have an By-election now and see if you are voted in again. You know why the opposition are against you but won’t want to step down from your post.
Anthony. R Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:45 PM
If Deshabandu could be IGP, why not Ratharan be Cope chairman, and make MirisKudu Malli the prime minister, its the banana Republic.
Sri lankan Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:47 PM
Good question, as he is not qualified to become a MP as well. As suggested by the cope chairman, should make standing orders to become a MP as well. Even for a government low rank staff if they need qualifications, why shouldn’t we implement qualifications for the law makers of this country? Cope chairman should talk about this too.
B P Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:53 PM
A forgotten fact is that it would be an insult to the officials who appear before the COPE if its chairman were RA. For the past 41 years or so, this committee has not had a chairman of this caliber.
Grace Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:55 PM
Also you are fit to be a policeman who can run fast and catch snatchers.
sam Thursday, 21 March 2024 04:56 PM
Who says you are fit to be an MP?
Jeanne Friday, 22 March 2024 02:44 AM
@sam: LMAO!!! Well said!
Graduate Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:04 PM
MPs should also have educational qualifications. Minimum GCSE Olevel.
Raj Friday, 22 March 2024 02:18 AM
Also we need to set a minimum IQ level for the people before allowing them to vote! Otherwise more and more idiots will become MPs to enact laws which you have to abide.
Citizens Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:08 PM
Who said that you are fit to be an MP??? Empty vessel makes the loudest noise! Sri Lankan parliament is full of such empty vessels like you so it's not a wonder the country is in shambles!
Tomyum Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:15 PM
Inherently chain snatchers have a different perspective to ethics and can't function even as a cope member. Cope is concerned about public internet where as chain snatchers loot the public
Big Sam Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:17 PM
Who said you are fit to be an MP?
Nimal Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:20 PM
Because the people of this nation have been foolish enough to elect many rogues, morons and scoundrels as mps, though a high degree of education, dignity and above all, integrity to function effectively as Chairman of COPE.
Wiseman Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:24 PM
Dollar ship sinking?
Sokrates Thursday, 21 March 2024 05:47 PM
Because as an MP you don't need a brain. As COPE chairman you need at least a rudimentary brain and should not be a criminal.
Nimal Friday, 22 March 2024 09:23 AM
This is what he sadly lacks.
Ganesh Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:01 PM
Akin to a fox guarding a chicken coop
Gabriella Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:07 PM
Because having you as COPE Chairman is the equivalent of having a fraudster and embezzler as a Bank manager.
Cheers Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:14 PM
Spot on
Uncle Paradise Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:17 PM
Precisely because you don't understand the difference is what makes you unsuitable to be the chair.
Citizen silva Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:18 PM
How can a driver be an MP and be chairman of Cope. Does he understand finance
Jayantha Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:19 PM
True in one way. Basil was ones finance minister without any qualification. I think he can be the common candidate from slpp lead coalition too. Lol
George Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:22 PM
People have no choice! They voted to bring GR and the party into power and therefore you benefitted by a fluke chance. People vote any "Dum" guy the party fields for an election. That's how the parliament is filled with unworthy characters. Being elected by people doesn't mean you are fit to be a COPE chairman. To be a COPE chairman one needs Integrity, Professionalism and Qualifications. Do you have the qualification like Eran or Harsha? No Doubt all the guys resigned. Party politics have ruined the country and the integrity of the parliament
Sam Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:51 PM
This is a very good questiom to be asked. Our clever Sri Lankans should answer this question as they are the ones who voted him and send him to the parliament. That's shows how educated our people who use thier votes too.
Borat Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:55 PM
Who said you are fit for anything rather than robbing . Get this into your thick skull . The rest of your buddies thieves think u and they are all fit for robbing and nothing else
Mohandev Thursday, 21 March 2024 06:58 PM
R Premadasa reincarnated? I challenge all opposition leaders to jointly declare
Db Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:00 PM
Very good point made by himself, can we rely on this demorotic electoral system
Janaka Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:12 PM
All potuwa members no opposition good luck keep your fingers cross to go home soon kaputa kaka kaka will give you the money
Janaka Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:16 PM
You came to parliament by rigging the votes people did not elect you. Katuta kaka kaka paid money and rigged the vote what education background you have. Do you have OL qualifications
Puswadilla Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:31 PM
You certainly cant cos the Ship
Sam Silva Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:36 PM
You are not even fit to be a 3wheeler driver just like others.
Raj Friday, 22 March 2024 02:23 AM
Do not insult three wheeler drivers! I have talked to them, they knew politics, economics and many practical things in layman language!
Sambo Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:37 PM
Because you are so uneducated and dumb. You are there not to serve the public but to serve certain individual's interest.
Sri Lankan Thursday, 21 March 2024 07:38 PM
Hey Mr. Ratharang, Those who elected you to parliament had the same qualifications as you, but to function as a chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprise, you should have some qualifications to understand the terms that are used, but I see you are not much to take this seat, so please do your regular job as you did earlier (snatcher of chains), in which you are expertise but not expert enough to hold such position.
See if you are voted in again in a By-Election Thursday, 21 March 2024 08:21 PM
You were voted into parliament by uneducated voters who were in dreamland. Challenge you to have a by election now and see if you are voted in again. You know why the opposition are against you but knowing your stubbornness, won’t want to step down from your post.
Yohan Thursday, 21 March 2024 08:25 PM
You are not even fit to be a MP
Mahila Thursday, 21 March 2024 08:31 PM
The same reason 200,000 Students who sit and pass the GCE (A/L) examination and have 4 Passes are unable to pass same examination with Credit or B passes in all subjects!!?? Insufficient Merit!!!???
Gon Badaa Thursday, 21 March 2024 08:37 PM
Then on this basis, he could become a professor at Harvard too. He us an MP.
Joshua Thursday, 21 March 2024 09:04 PM
Who said you are fit to be an MP? None of the SLPP fellows deserve a place in parliament. You look at the mirror and see for yourself
Upul Thursday, 21 March 2024 09:41 PM
He got it right in a sense, but the fact is that he is not fit to be a MP in the first place.
Gunasekara Thursday, 21 March 2024 09:48 PM
There is no qualification required to be the COPE chairmen. This committees are all an eyewash in the parliament system. People of our country must be able to elect the correct qualified person to there seats.
Sam Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:06 PM
We do not think you are fit to be a MP.
ts Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:16 PM
I sincerely believe we have the right person here. If you are an honest person, it is very difficult to catch thieves. However, a thief would know all too well where to look and what to look for. Given all that, we have the most qualified candidate to lead
ALL THESE CORRUPT POLITICIANS THINK THEY ARE FIR, BUT ARE FIT FOR NOTHING Thursday, 21 March 2024 10:26 PM
THOSE VOTERS WHO THOUGHT YOU WERE FIT, WERE EITHER HALUCINATING OR DRUNK ON ARRAK AND OR TODDY. COME ELECTIONS YOU WILL REALISE WHAT YOU ARE FIT FOR, AS THOSE WHO VOTED FOR YOU HAVE WOKER UP.
ROSH Thursday, 21 March 2024 11:46 PM
Excellent news.
Voter Friday, 22 March 2024 02:25 AM
This is true in Sri Lankan Politics today, as observed in this individual's argument. Today, only thugs, rapists, bribe takers, and anti-social elements are the qualifications required to be an MP. Given this why should he not be the Chairman of COPE? Of Course-This will only mean "BLIND LEADING THE BLIND"!
Sen Rajapaksha Friday, 22 March 2024 03:11 AM
He is insulting the intelligence of the voters. "if you voted me into the parliament live with it. don't complain"
Concerned Friday, 22 March 2024 04:17 AM
Who said you are fit to be a MP?? You are fit to rob only! Well, come to think of it, robbing is the number one qualification to become a MP!
Rishan Friday, 22 March 2024 04:51 AM
In Sri Lanka there is no minimum qualification needed to become a MP. When it comes to COPA chairmanship post, nominated person should be educated preferably with a PhD ( One can argue how can person with PhD enter the parliament, why not ? National list quota is for such qualified people) without any court cases . So public can decide whether RA suited for this job....
shanaka Friday, 22 March 2024 06:25 AM
you can function at a jewelry shop , more suitable or put you in charge of a countries gold reserves
Sharley Friday, 22 March 2024 06:51 AM
You passed only year8 ,but there are in parliamentarians who attended to year 2 in the school,in that sense you’re eligible but in COPE, you have to meet, mostly well qualified highly educated if not political puppets, so it’s better to understand your shortcoming and keep away from it
Sambo Friday, 22 March 2024 07:57 AM
You are fit for nothing and good for nothing.
melville perera Friday, 22 March 2024 08:12 AM
thank the illiterate voters who thought you were suitable
Buddhist Friday, 22 March 2024 08:14 AM
I was told that all the women who were in attendance at the first COPE meeting came without their chains around their necks.
navratne willamune Friday, 22 March 2024 08:36 AM
You are not even fit to be elected as an mp. traversty of democracy.when idiots elect you as their mp
ANNEPUSSY Friday, 22 March 2024 01:44 PM
because you are a corrupt idiot
ROHITHA Friday, 22 March 2024 03:39 PM
i cannot take all these insult i am going to be a petrol pump boy
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