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UNP
protests over Balapatabendi's appointment as HC Down Under MP Joseph Michael Perera said a decision on whether to ask Mr. Balapatadendi to appear before the Committee would have to come from the Speaker. In the petition signed by the members and handed over to the Speaker, the UNP legislators have said they were deprived of the chance to query Mr. Balapatabendi regarding allegations contained in the large amount of petitions the Committee received after it called for public representations regarding the appointment of Mr. Balapatabendi as the new head of mission to Australia late last year. The High Posts Committee examines the suitability of candidates nominated to high positions including high commissioner and ambassadors and public representations are too taken into consideration when confirming a person for such a post. Mr.Perera told The Sunday Times that Mr. Balapatabendi did not appear before the Committee on the day he was summoned to do so but came on another day when his appearance was not included in the agenda for the day’s business of the High Posts Committee and as a result only UNP member Karu Jayasuriya was present. Normally advance notice is given of the agenda for the Committee meetings to all members so as to enable them to be present if there is a matter of interest to them. The other UNP members of the High Posts Committee include P. Dayaratne, Prof.G.L. Peiris and Mahinda Samarasinghe. Meanwhile, Buddha Sasana Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has tendered his resignation as the Chairman of the High Posts Committee and as a member of the Committee on Privileges last week. He had informed the two Committees he was quitting them but no reason was given for his decision. |
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