Uproar in Parliament over appointment of select committee to look into SL’s insolvency

6 July 2023 11:30 am - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A verbal battle broke out in Parliament over the announcement by the Speaker on the appointment of a Select Committee chaired by SLPP MP Sagara Kariyawasam to look into the insolvency of Sri Lanka, with the Opposition claiming the chairmanship of the committee and the ruling party thinking otherwise.

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella demanded the chairmanship of the Select Committee for the Opposition.

“The country became insolvent after the SLPP government granted massive tax concessions worth Rs. 700 billion. Therefore, it is not correct to appoint a member of that government as the chairman of the Select Committee which looks into insolvency. Accordingly we request that an Opposition MP be appointed as the chairman,” Mr. Premadasa said.

Mr. Kiriella said the Speaker's appointment is like “Horage ammagen pena ahana committee’(A committee seeking a tentative verdict from a thief’s mother).

Minister Bandula Gunawardene said a number of governments which ruled the nation in the past are also responsible for the economic crisis.

“There is a legislation which was enacted some years ago. Under this Act the budget deficit should be reduced to 5 percent of GDP and public debt should be 65 percent of the GDP by 2006. No government which ruled the country during the given time had fulfilled this need. Therefore the SLPP government of 2020 is not totally responsible for the economic crisis,” he said.

Minister Ali Sabry argued that the Yahapalana government of 2015 reduced the economic growth which was 7 percent drastically through bad management of the economy during its tenure. Therefore the SLPP government is not the sole culprit, he said.

Opposition MP Weerasumana Weerasinghe and Mohamed Muzammil then argued that the composition of the Select Committee should be in accordance with the new composition of the House.

“I belong to a new group which comprises ten members in the House and we have not been given representation even to the business commitee. Therefore, I appeal that groups such as ours should be represented in committees,” MP Muzammil said.

However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene shot the Opposition demands down and announced the Select Committee members chaired by Sagala Kariyawasam. It also comprises MPs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Ranjith Bandara, Eran Wickramaratne, Vijitha Herath, Pradeep Undugoda, S. Rasamanikam, D.V. Chanaka, Mahindananda Aluthgmage, Jayantha Ketagoda, Harshana Rajakaruna, Sanjeewa Edirimanne and Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)

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Comments - 16

analyser Thursday, 06 July 2023 11:49 AM

I agree with Sajith that it is like the thieves looking into their own conduct with names like Sagala Kariyawasam, MPs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Ranjith Bandara, and Mahindananda Aluthgamage

Citizen Silva Thursday, 06 July 2023 12:03 PM

As a protest the opposition MP's should resign from the committee. Ask the Speaker to sit on the committee. We know what the outcome will be.

Sivalingam Thursday, 06 July 2023 12:56 PM

Look at the vehicles used by the leeches of Diyawannawa, anyone with an average brain can figure out who bankrupted the country.

Robber Gang Thursday, 06 July 2023 01:00 PM

This is only an Eye Wash ! The Committee with Pohottuwa Secretary as Chairman will at the end declare that the JVP is responsible citing events of the past ? Respected MPs like Eran Wickremeratne, Vijitha Herath , Harshana and others must withdraw if the Chairmanship is given to one who is in the Gang responsible for the Insolvency . for the Insol

Ram Thursday, 06 July 2023 01:26 PM

Speaker is in the pocket of RW and does things and give orders to suit RW agenda. This is also one of them. Only a show with no tangible action

RW Thursday, 06 July 2023 01:29 PM

May be the joke of the century . The same people who took the country towards bankruptcy are entrusted to check what happened .

Lasantha Thursday, 06 July 2023 01:51 PM

All of a sudden we have so many economic experts in the house including WW and UG!

Buddhist Thursday, 06 July 2023 04:59 PM

Opposition must walk out and stay out of the Parliament until this Speaker resigns.

K. Ranaweera Thursday, 06 July 2023 05:52 PM

Speaker is a political stooge of the ruling party. Speaker must have been an impartial figure in a democratic parliament.

Maithree Jayawardane Thursday, 06 July 2023 06:14 PM

Nothing to look into, force for the general election with international support. New govt. with a sane constitution will direct the country and president into right direction, may be having undated resignation letters from all ruling party MPs in president's pocket.

rbh Thursday, 06 July 2023 06:53 PM

sabry cover up statesment is no valid as all his leaders put the country to beg and all travelling out side countr

Wiraj Thursday, 06 July 2023 07:34 PM

Similar to electing Maithri

johan Thursday, 06 July 2023 11:52 PM

What a joke.Our speaker is playing Jekyll and Hyde game.How can people from SLPP who bankrupted the country find the real cause for the country's bankruptcy

Moh Sleiman Friday, 07 July 2023 05:12 AM

Does the SPEAKER look anything like an Educated man,to be an speaker of Parliament,he is a mut obviously RANIL LIKES HIM,He shuold be the speaker at home,even then i dont think anyone hears him.He looks a MONKEY in the JUNGLE.

Charles Jansz Friday, 07 July 2023 06:58 AM

This strategy and the majority composition takes the cake...no wonder someone gave such a precise description - "A Committee is like going to the toilet - first there's a sitting, then some noise and then the thing is dropped!"

worried citizen Friday, 07 July 2023 09:35 AM

This is absurd, All the crooks are in the committee from SLPP. Who will catch whom? Is this an eye wash to the general public?

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Uproar in Parliament over appointment of select committee to look into SL’s insolvency

Comments - 16

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