Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara today declined to accept his appointment to the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).
Opening Parliament proceedings, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapkshe announced the appointment of MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara to the COPE Committee.
However, immediately, MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara intervened and announced his decision to decline the appointment.
Addressing the Chamber, MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara pointed out that it was general practice for an opposition MP to head the COPE Committee.
The Parliamentarian said that with the current issue with the newly appointed Chairman, he will be declining his appointment to the COPE Committee.
MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara becomes the latest member to resign from the COPE Committee.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Eran Wickramaratne was the first member of the COPE Committee to resign, citing issues with the appointment of a ruling party member as the new chairman of the Committee.
Following his resignation, MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara (SLFP), Prof. Charitha Herath (SLPP), S.M. Marikkar (SJB), Hesha Withanage (SJB), Gamini Waleboda (SLPP), and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam (TNA) also stepped down from the COPE Committee.
A total of eight Parliamentarians have stepped down from the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) as of now. (NewsWire)