Mr. Anara Kumara Dissanayake, head of the Janatha Vimukti Peramuna, has opted to boycott today’s COPE chairman election.
Mr. Ranjith Bandara of Pohottuve received 14 votes, while Mr. Iran Wickramaratne received 7.
All other opposition members had pledged to vote for Mr. Iran Wickramaratne.
During the previous good governance government, preparations were taken to grant the opposition the position of COPE committee chairman, and the then opposition nominated Mr. Sunil Hadunnetthi, a JVP member, for that role.
Despite this, opposition members believe it is immoral for Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake to ignore it during the voting to elect the COPE chairman this time.