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Since the “Yahapalanaya” Government took office in August 2015, the focus has been on strengthening the role of Parliament, particularly its oversight bodies and its control over public finances.

One of its first tasks was to grant the Chairmanship of the Committee On Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to Opposition Lawmakers. While both Committees have performed far better under this Government, by releasing regular reports and bringing more and more government institutions under scrutiny. The one instance when the role of some COPE members came under question was during the probe into the Central Bank Treasury Bond (TB) issue, by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCI). It was alleged that several of its members had had telephone conversations with the main suspect in the TB scam, Arjun Aloysius, while COPE was probing the matter.

The MPs in question are Sujeewa Senasinghe, Ajith P. Perera, Harshana Rajakaruna and Hector Appuhamy (all of the UNP), and Dayasiri Jayasekara (UPFA). They have all defended themselves saying, they had not done anything irregular but, despite their denials, it is not the kind of conduct that can be explained away by mere denials. Hence, the decision by Speaker Karu Jayasuirya to reappoint them to COPE this week, drew criticism from several quarters in Parliament.

The Speaker named the members to the COPE with the commencement of the new session of the House, which began on May 8, after a brief prorogation by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Among those who criticised the decision to reappoint the MPs to COPE was Chief Opposition Whip JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who warned that their inclusion in COPE would undermine it. “COPE carries out investigations into financial irregularities in Public sector institutions. How can it proceed with investigating in a credible manner, when it comprises people who have no credibility?” he queried.

He said it is immoral to have on board these MPs who are alleged to have contacts with Aloysius, while COPE was investigating the TB issue.

UPFA (Joint Opposition Group) MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the Group had submitted a letter to the Speaker, asking him not to reappoint the MPs who are under a cloud of suspicion.

The Speaker defended his decision to appoint these MPs saying, there are allegations but, nothing has been proved against them. There are many in this House with accusations against them. The Government also pointed out to me that, until proven guilty they are innocent, and are entitled to their Parliamentary privileges.

Therefore, I had agreed to reappoint them,” he said.

The issue of conflict of interests of MPs is one that has been addressed by the new Code of Conduct (CoC) for MPs, that was approved by Parliament earlier this year.

The CoC prohibits MPs from using any information they receive in confidence, during the course of their Parliamentary duties, for financial or personal gain.

The question that arises is, whether the MPs whose names have transpired during investigations by a PCI, can be allowed to sit on a Parliamentary oversight committee, especially in view of the newly adopted CoC. While there is no doubt that MPs, like all other citizens, should be deemed innocent until proven guilty before a court of law, elected representatives have to be deemed innocent in the eyes of the public too. The credibility of Parliamentary Committees hinges on the faith the public h ave in them.