Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara yesterday proposed to appoint a Parliamentary Committee on the procurement of fuel and coal. He further proposed to appoint a member of the Opposition as the Chairman of that Committee.
Responding to a question by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Minister Wijesekara said in Parliament yesterday that President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of appointing more Parliamentary Committees.
Therefore, I propose to appoint a Committee on fuel and coal procurement since former Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka and several other MPs have said that fuel can be procured and sold at very low prices.
In response to this, Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance MP Harsha de Silva said that the Committee on Public Finance has already been empowered to look into fuel and coal procurement.
But, the Minister further stressed the importance of setting up a Committee specific for this matter to stop slinging mud.
MP Harsha de Silva further said that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution would see the appointment of Independent Commissions on Government procurement and it would be best if the amendment was restored.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
, Political, ,