TISL condemn election of ministers to COPE and PAC

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) yesterday condemned the election of ministers to chair the highly influential Parliamentary Standing committees COPE and PAC, saying that it was an ‘intentional undemocratic move to weaken legislative scrutiny so that the irregular financial expenditure by the Executive would continue unabated’.

The International watch dog on good governance also urged the two ministers to resign from those positions and display their commitment, integrity and democratic values.

Ministers John Seneviratna and Anura Priyadharshana Yapa were elected as chairmen of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament on Wednesday.

The action of the government is against all norms of democratic parliamentary traditions. The TISL on July 8, urged the government not to appoint Ministers to these committees in order to ensure a healthy environment to have an effective financial oversight, Executive Director TISL, J. C. Weliamuna said in a statement.

“We reiterate that Parliament should reconsider this questionable decision and uphold the fundamental value of appointing Opposition members to head the parliamentary oversight committees”, he said.

According to Parliamentary tradition, oversight committees are normally headed by members of the Opposition. This tradition has been maintained in Sri Lanka well over the years, Mr. Weliamuna said.

Meanwhile, Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardana said that both Ministers were elected to the chair by the members of the two committees unanimously after the opposition members walked out.

“The government did not have a hand in it. It was entirely the responsibility of the members of the COPE and PAC and the two Ministers were elected without a fight. The numerical position of members of the committees was 16 to the government and 15 to the Opposition.

However, if there was a contest the situation would have been different. But there was no opportunity for that. Even the Speaker explained this situation to the Opposition,” Mr. Gunawardana said.

General Secretary of the UNP. Tissa Attanayaka MP said that the modus operandi of the government was to cripple the investigations of the two committees.

“The tradition in a parliamentary democracy is that the chairmanship of these two oversight committees is held by the Opposition. During the UNP rule we honoured this tradition. By appointing two Ministers to the chair of these committees the intention of the government is very clear” Mr. Attanayaka said