Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara requested the Speaker to appoint opposition MPs as chairpersons of COPE and PAC in Parliament.

Speaking in Parliament, Bandara said the tradition of appointing opposition MPs as chairpersons of these committees was maintained in the recent past by previous government.

However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said it was up to the members of the committees to make a decision on the chairperson’s post.

At that point, Jayamaha said it is the Speaker who has the power to nominate chairpersons for these committees.

The discussion ended without a final decision today .