A rift is observed in the primary opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) as MP Harsha de Silva takes issue with fellow SJB parliamentarian Mayantha Dissanayake accepting the position of Committee on Public Finance (COPF) chair.Speaking to the media in this regard, MP de Silva, who wept foul over the consultation, alleged that this happened with the complete knowledge of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.On Thursday (Feb 23), MP Dissanayake was picked as the COPF chair despite MP de Silva being proposed by the SJB for the position.After the 3rd session of the ninth parliament was prorogued by President Wickremesinghe, three parliamentary watchdog committees, particularly the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA), Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the COPF, were appropriately dissolved.Following the consultation of MP Dissanayake as the COPF chair, MP de Silva alleged that all federal government MPs in the Committee of Selection in the parliament endorsed this visit, overthrowing his election.

Actually, it was my name that was proposed by the opposition as the nominee from the opposition.

It was approved 2 days back.

Today, the government abused their power and used Mayantha to get their way, the SJB legislator tweeted on Thursday.MP de Silva later mentioned that Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has actually asked MP Dissanayake to step down as the COPF chair, who declined to do so.Meanwhile, a heated debate occurred in the parliament on Friday (Feb 24) over the matter.

According to Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader MP Rauff Hakeem, who is also a member of the Committee of Selection, the new COPF chair has discussed that he was asked by Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to accept the position.

The Speaker was fast to refuse the claim, mentioning that it was MP Dissanayake who telephoned him.Hakeem kept in mind that, in terms of the Standing Orders, the choice committee need to accept the name of the parliamentarian proposed by the opposition as the COPF chair.Pursuant to the Standing Orders of the parliament, a member of the opposition need to be appointed for the COPF chairmanship.

Nevertheless, MPs in the ruling party firmly insist that the Committee of Selection has actually made the consultation in compliance with the Standing Orders.