Deputy Minister of Mass Media Kaushalya Ariyarathne has clarified media reports regarding Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma informing the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) that he would be unable to appear before the committee on Thursday.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday (29), COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva said he had received a letter from the Treasury Secretary stating that he is unable to attend the committee meeting scheduled for Thursday.
He added that the Treasury Secretary had cited the President’s intention to make a statement in Parliament on the matter and had requested an alternative date after that.
Speaking to NewsWire, Deputy Minister Ariyarathne said the Treasury Secretary had not refused to appear before the committee, but had only requested a date after May 5, as the government is scheduled to make a special statement in Parliament on the issue.
She further said that Suriyapperuma would appear before the COPF on a rescheduled date agreed upon by the committee. (NewsWire)