Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa raised concerns in Parliament today (16) regarding the eligibility of Kanishka Bandara, a member of the COPE Committee.
Premadasa questioned how Ranjit Bandara’s son, Kanishka Bandara, who serves as the media secretary for MP Ranjat Bandara, is allowed to participate in the committee. The opposition leader argued that this participation violated parliamentary privileges, emphasizing that his secretary and additional secretary were denied participation in the COPE committee.
Professor Ranjit Bandara, the former COPE Committee chairman, is currently a consultant for Sri Lanka Cricket and receives payment from the organization.
Premadasa presented this information to highlight a potential conflict of interest. He contended that allowing Professor Ranjit Bandara, who is associated with Sri Lanka Cricket, to chair the COPE committee for the investigation into Sri Lanka Cricket compromises the ethics of Parliament.
The opposition leader called for reconsideration of this arrangement, expressing concern over the credibility of the Sri Lanka Cricket investigation under these circumstances