Bandara says his son is his coordinating secy

COPE Chairman Prof. Ranjith Bandara has said that his son Kanishka Bandara holds the position of coordinating secretary to the COPE Chairman and as such the latter had been allowed to attend the official functions of the COPE.

When contacted for comments on social media reports going viral on Kanishka Bandara attending a COPE meeting on Sri Lanka cricket, Prof Bandara said Kanishka was attending the COPE meetings since Oct 05, 2022. It was the duty of Kanishka to attend COPE meetings. Kanishka has been doing so with permission given by parliamentary authorities and attended the COPE sessions in his official capacity,” Prof Bandara said.

Asked to comment on the matters pertaining to conflict of interest he is alleged to have owing to his links with SLC, Prof Bandara said that he had been teaching economics at the University of Colombo before his assuming duties as an MP. “I have been consulted by many institutions for their plans and concept papers etc.  Former SLC administration led by Thilanga Sumathipala had entered into an agreement with the Colombo School of Business and Management for a consultancy role. The Colombo School of Business and Management had provided its services to the former SLC administration from 2017 to May 2018,” he said.