March 20, Colombo, LNW: Amidst controversy surrounding the appointment of SLPP MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena as the chairman of the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE), MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara has announced his resignation from the committee, joining a parade of parliamentarians who have stepped down in protest.
The announcement came shortly after the Deputy Speaker’s announcement of Bandara’s appointment as a COPE member during the parliamentary session this morning. However, Bandara promptly declared his resignation, stating his intention to formalize it in writing.
The appointment of Abeygunawardena as COPE chairman was made on March 07 during the first committee meeting of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament. Despite the nomination being put forward by MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage and seconded by MP Sanjeewa Edirimanne, it has sparked dissatisfaction among several MPs.
In addition to Bandara, several other MPs, including Anura Dissanayaka, Rauff Hakeem, Dilan Perera, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Eran Wickramaratne, Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, S. M. Marikkar, Hesha Withanage, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam, and Gamini Waleboda, were appointed as COPE members.
However, a total of seven members, including Wickramaratne, Waleboda, Herath, Jayasekara, Marikkar, Withanage, and Rasamanickam, have thus far resigned from the committee, with Bandara becoming the eighth member to step down from COPE amidst the ongoing controversy.
