Sri Lanka Speaker appoints Committee of Selection despite opposition

Nov 23, 2018 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Friday appointed the Committee of Selection under the standing orders of 136 and 143, despite opposition from the UPFA members.

Speaker announced names giving 5 members each to UPFA and UNF and one each to TNA and JVP for the Committee. Speaker also called a vote by name at the request of Lakshman Kiriella and Anura Kumara. 121 voted in favor of the appointments made to the Committee even though the UPFA staged a walkout ahead of the vote.

A Committee of Selection should be appointed at the commencement of every Parliamentary session which will nominate members to serve upon other Committees including the Committee on Parliamentary Business. Committee of Selection appointed by Speaker: UPFA - Dinesh Gunawardene, S B Dissanayake, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Wimal Weerawansha UNF - Lakshman Kiriella, Rauff Hakeem, Rishard Bathiudeen, Mano Ganeshan, Patali Champika Ranawaka ITAK - Mavai Senathirajah JVP - Vijitha Herath