Opp. Leader: Speaker consults experts and political parties

by Jaliya Wijeyekoon

Speaker of Parliament, Chamal Rajapaksa is to seek constitutional experts advice before giving a ruling on the appointment of an Opposition Leader to the Parliament.

Speaker Chamala Rajapaksa told the Sunday Observer that he will be consulting 'all relevant parties' including experts, before giving a ruling on the Opposition Leader's post on April 6, by now a hotly debated issue. Following the setting up of a national government, several political parties have lodged their strongest form of protest against the appointment of Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Opposition Leader, given that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP), which he represents, is now part of the national government.

Adding a fresh twist, 11 new Cabinet Ministers, 10 Deputy Ministers and five State Ministers from the SLFP were sworn in last week.

Several constituent parties of the UPFA and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have alleged that the SLFP cannot be in the government and the opposition both, claiming there is no such precedent anywhere in the world to allow such a charade.

Leader of the National Freedom Front, Wimal Weerawansa, Democratic Left Front Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila have jointly requested all Opposition members to elect Leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Dinesh Gunewardene, replacing Nimal Siripala de Silva, the incumbant.

When contacted by the Sunday Observer, Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva declined to comment, adding that it was now a matter for the Speaker to decide.

MEP Leader Dinesh Gunewardene, the proposed candidate by three political parties, said that the Speaker would give a ruling, taking in to consideration all the views expressed by various political parties represented in parliament.