The Parliamentary Council has approved nominations made by the President for five Independent Commissions.
Chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Parliamentary Council was convened at the Parliament yesterday evening (03).
The President’s nominees for the Election Commission, Public Services Commission, National Police Commission, Finance Commission and Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) were approved by the Parliamentary Council.
Accordingly, Nimal Punchihewa has been appointed as the new Chairman of the National Election Commission. The Parliamentary Council approved the appointment of Punchihewa on the recommendation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Punchihewa served as the Director (Legal) of the Election Commission prior to his appointment.
The other members are M.M.Mohamed, S.B. Divaratne, Jeevan Thyagarajah and K.P.P. Pathirana.
As per the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, the Election Commission will comprise of five members instead of the three members under the 19th Amendment.
The Parliamentary Council also approved the appointments of four other independent commissions.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Jagath Balapatabendi and its members include Indrani Sugathadasa, Leelasena Liyanagama, Dr.T.R.C. Ruberu, Dian Gomes,W.H. Piyadasa, Dilith Jayaweera,V.Sivagnanasothy and A.L.M.Saleem.
The National Police Commission headed by retired Inspector General of Police Chandra Fernando and members S. Liyanagama, Sanjeewa Pathirana, M.S.M. Samsudeen, Premasiri Fernando, Gunapala Wickamage and T.P. Parameswaran.
The three-members of the CIABOC are former Supreme Court Judge Eva Wanasundera, retired Court of Appeal Judge Deepali Wijesundera and State Intelligence Service (SIS) former Director Chandra Nimal Wakishta.
The Finance Commission will be chaired by Finance Ministry former Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe and its two ex-officio members Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Prof. W.D.Lakshman and Finance Ministry Secretary S.R.Attygalle along with the other two members Razik Zarook PC and Sinnathamby Samithamby.
(Daily News)