The SBJ has refused to play any role in the 17 sectoral oversight committees if it is not given the chair of all of them.
Chief opposition whip Lakshman Kiriella has informed the committee on parliamentary affairs headed by the speaker about this demand by the party.
At the committee’s meeting on November 11, both opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Kiriella had originally made that call.
However, the SLPP’s Sagara Kariyawasam has strongly opposed it, saying the government should chair nine of the sectoral oversight committees with the opposition getting the other eight.
Secretary general of parliament Dhammika Dassanayake has remarked that the membership of these committees, to be appointed as per the composition in parliament, should elect each chairman by majority vote.
