COPE Chairman writes to Speaker

COLOMBO: The Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC in a letter sent to Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara stated yesterday that the law does not permit to appoint 26 Select Committees to probe into the corruption referred to in the 26 institutions in the COPE report presented on January 26.

“The law does not permit any appointment of any other Select Committee to explore or scrutinise reports and recommendations made by another Select Committee even if all the party leaders in Parliament agree to appoint such a Select Committee,” Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe points out in his letter to the Speaker.

The Party leaders on August 10 agreed to make arrangements to appoint 26 Select Committees to probe into the alleged corruption referred to in the 26 institutions in the COPE report submitted to Parliament on January 12.

He points out that the existing committee was constituted in compliance with the Standing Orders and the Committee (COPE) comprises members from each and every political party in Parliament.

“This (COPE) is one of the most powerful and permanent committees which had been set up to unearth, expose and combat corruption and mismanagement in the State sector,” he states in his letter to the Speaker.

“In the event any such Select Committees are appointed to probe into our report, not only will it breach the laws of the country including the Constitution and Standing Orders but it will also lead to a severe derogation of confidence entrusted to the Parliament by the people while exercising their sovereignty and franchise at elections”, he states.

“There is no precedent for the appointment of a temporary Select Committee to inquire into the findings of a permanent Select Committee in any part of the world. In that context it is not only a breach of well established parliamentary tradition which is deeply rooted in our Parliamentary democracy,” he states.