An agreement has been reached at the party leaders meeting to increase powers vested with Parliament, the Committee on Public Accounts, the Committee on Public Enterprises and the Committee on Public Petitions.
The Parliament Communications Department said the bill to amend Standing Orders submitted by Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on behalf of the government was approved.
The party leaders’ meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of House.
A proposal put forward by the opposition party leaders that the Chairmanship of the Committee on Public Accounts and the Committee on Public Enterprises should be granted to the opposition was discussed while an agreement was reached.
Minister Gunawardena said the amendments should be carried forward to empower thee committees and to not only stop at report submissions.
Among the proposals put forward is an amendment that members of COPE and COPA should not hold Cabinet portfolios.
