The first meeting of COPE will take place in Parliament today at 2.30 PM.

One of the first tasks of the committee will be appoint a chairman, which has now become a matter of contention between the government and the opposition.

The Chairmanship of COPE was held by Sunil Handunnetti, an opposition MP, under the previous government and his conduct was widely praised across the political spectrum.

The opposition claims that the tradition of appoiunting an opposition MP as the COPE Chairman should be continued under the current government. The ruling party, however, has not responded favourably to this request.

Twenty two MPs from the government and the opposition serve as members of the committee with the ruling party MPs forming the majority.