4-man team to probe vote fiasco

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday appointed a four-member committee to investigate the controversial supplementary bill vote, which divided lawmakers on its validity and the approval.

The Committee headed by the Leader of the Opposition Rajavarothiam Sampanthan includes former Speaker UPFA Hambantota District MP Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem, and Minister of Justice and Minister of Buddhasasana  Dr.Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. The committee report is due to be presented at the next Parliament.

However, Chief Opposition Whip JVP MP Anura Dissanayaka expressed his concern over the impartiality of the appointments. “The Committee should comprise members who were not here for the voting. Especially the Leader of the Opposition voted in favour. He cannot be allowed to lead the investigation,” objected MP Dissanayaka.

Rejecting MP Dissanayaka’s objections Speaker Jayasuriya said: “Rajavarothiam Sampanthan is the Leader of the Opposition. Casting vote is his right and it should not affect the process of the business of the House.”