UPFA MP and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila expressed his opposition at the decision to name 2 JVP MPs to the Parliament Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).

Speaking at a press conference at PHU headquarters, Gammanpila stated that although the TNA and the JVP were in opposition, they are effectively supporting the government and preventing the real opposition from emerging in Parliament. The other non-SLFP parliamentarians left in the opposition have been given only one slot in the COPE committee, he pointed out. However, the JVP had been given two slots, although it has only six MPs.

Going by the quota given to the JVP, the other opposition MPs should be given the opportunity to allocate at least three members to the Committee, Gammanpila argued.

JVP MPs Sunil Handunnetti and Bimal Rathnayake have been named for the COPE committee. Meanwhile, Chandrasiri Gajadheera, who is a Communist Party Member, has been named from the opposition.

Gammanpila had earlier opposed to the naming of JVP MP Vijitha Herath to the Constitutional Council as the representatives of the minor parties in Parliament.