Opposition Members of Parliament were on a war path yesterday in Parliament when the Speaker announced the same names of that bond report “Foot note clique” back in COPE. They raised the issue of appointing the very same people accused of manipulating the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) proceedings during the bond probe having secret telephone conversations with the main accused Arjun Aloysius.
Raising a point of order, UPFA Bandula Gunawardena said, once COPE and Public Accounts Committee dissolved with the prorogation of Parliament. usually when a new session starts, Committees change with new members and not to reappoint the same members.
MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said, that the Joint Opposition has submitted a letter to the Speaker vehemently protesting appointment of MPs who had been accused of facilitating the bond scam.
Chief Government Whip said, that COPE is an important body investigates allegations and accusations with regard to the Public Institutions. How can it proceed with investigations on others when it comprises of people who have no credibility? So appointing the very same people accused of having dealings with the main suspect Arjun Aloysius during bond issue was probed by the COPE.It is not moral for them to be in COPE. The COPE should be free of such MPs, he concluded.
In response the speaker said thus “ I inquired about this at the party leaders meeting. There it was proposed to reappoint the same members to the same committees. That proposal was made with a views to save time. We came to that decision with the agreement for leaving room for changes if necessary, he concluded.
