Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake announced today (6) that the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) will be granted to the opposition.

Responding to a query in Parliament regarding the Parliamentary Affairs Committee or the Party Leaders’ meeting, Rathnayake stated, “We have decided to give the position of Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) to the opposition. It is not something you requested. Also, the number of members of the Public Accounts Committee has been increased beyond the standing orders.”

He clarified that the ruling party will retain the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), citing the need to review the affairs of the previous government. “We do not want a minister from the former government to come and become the chairman of the COPE. That is not ethical,” he added.

On the Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOC), Rathnayake said a deadline of 31 January has been set for their appointments. Meanwhile, a decision regarding the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) is expected later this evening.

He also emphasised the importance of establishing 24 Ministerial Consultative Committees, including those for the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and Ministry of Digital Economy.