UPFA eyes COPE and PAC positions

UPFA Matara District Parliamentarian Dullas Alahapperuma said that the MPs in the 'Joint Opposition' would not support Budget 2016 if they were not given fair representation in the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The MP made these remarks while speaking during the debate on the second reading of the Budget proposals adding that members of the 'Joint Opposition' were treated unfairly when MPs were nominated to the two Parliamentary oversight committees.
Alahapperuma pointed out that the 'Joint Opposition', who he claims has 50 members, was only allotted two slots in the two committees, while the TNA were given five slots and the JVP were given four.

"Out of the 24 members in each of the two committees, the TNA who have 16 MPs in Parliament were allocated five spots and the JVP who have six MPs were given four positions. However, the 'Joint Opposition' which consists of 50 members have only been allotted two slots in the committees," Alahapperuma said.

He went on to say that he brought the matter to the attention of both President Maithripala Sirisena and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, but to no avail.