By Saman Indrajith

Speaker Mahinda Yapa yesterday announced in the House changes to be effected to the composition of several parliamentary committees with immediate effect.

The Speaker said that the following MPs under the Chairmanship of Dr. Ramesh Pathirana had been appointed to serve on the “Select Committee of Parliament to investigate into and to make suitable recommendations relating to the disasters caused by New Diamond and X-Press Pearl vessels in the Maritime Zone of Sri Lanka”: Dr. Suren Raghavan, Diana Gamage, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Rauff Hakeem, Vijitha Herath, Sarath Weerasekera, Niroshan Perera, Ajith Mannapperuma, Nimal Lanza, Thushara Indunil Amarasena, Dr. Kavinda Heshan Jayawardena, Akila Ellawala, Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda, and Madhura Withanage.

The Speaker also said that the following Members had also been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve on each Sectoral Oversight Committee, in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 111 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on 21st November 2022: Kokila Gunawardene has been appointed for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Religious Affairs and Co-Existence, Marjan Faleel for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Reconciliation and National Unity, Johnston Fernando for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security, Madhura Withanage for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on International Relations, Sarath Weerasekera for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Alleviating the Impact of the Economic Crisis, A. L. M. Athaullah for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Energy & Transport, C. B. Rathnayake for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Food Security & Agriculture, Jayantha Ketagoda for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Sustainable Development, Gamini Lokuge for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Foreign Employment & Labour, Muditha Prishanthi for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Health, S. M. M. Muszhaaraff for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Children, Women and Gender, Thisakutti Arachchi for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Media, Youth, Heritage and New Citizen, Jayantha Weerasinghe for the Sectoral Oversight Committee on An Open & Accountable Government .

Speaker Abeywardena announced that A. L. M. Athaullah had also been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Committee on Parliamentary Business, in terms of the provisions of the Standing Order 115 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on 10th February 2023.

Milan Jayathilake had been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, in terms of the provisions of Standing Order 122 of the Parliament and the motion agreed to by Parliament on Feb 10 2023, the speaker said.

The Speaker said that notwithstanding the provisions of the Standing Order 118 of the Parliament and the motion adopted by Parliament on 10th February 2023, the following Members have also been nominated by the Committee of Selection to serve in the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, as per the motion adopted by Parliament on 26th May 2023: Johnston Fernando, R. M. Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Thalatha Athukorala have been nominated to serve in the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.