COPE Chairman and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List MP Charitha Herath said that there is no provision in the Parliamentary Standing Orders to make an Opposition MP the Chairman of the Committee of Public Enterprise (COPE).
Presenting the COPE Report he said that he had no objections to appointing one from the Opposition to chair COPE following an agreement by both sides but it was misleading and incorrect for the Opposition to say that the position should be given to the Opposition in accordance with Standing Orders.
He said that the Committee studied SriLankan Airlines under three Sub Committees including one Expert Committee as well. It is high time that the House discusses the matter and takes a decision considering the impact of the institution on the economy.
He said that whoever is elected to the seat, whether from the Government or Opposition, acts as an independent person because he represents Parliament.
Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Council and Local Government Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that a member to Chair a Committee in which the Speaker is not a member is elected by the members of the Committee itself. However, when elected, a member represents Parliament and acts as the head of all the public institutions that come under the perusal of the Committees.