Secret ballot voting to elect new President commenced in Parliament

The secret ballot voting to elect the new President to the office of Executive President commenced in Parliament a short while ago.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena instructed Parliamentarians not to take their mobile phones to the polling booth while stressing taking photos of the poling card is illegal.

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Dullas Alahapperuma and National People's Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake have put forward their names for the presidency. 

Mr Alahapperuma's name was proposed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and seconded by SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris. 

In a clear sign of a split within the SLPP, Mr Wickremesinghe's name was proposed by Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena. It was seconded by SJB MP Manusha Nanayakkara, who had earlier accepted a ministerial post under then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

Mr Dissanayake's name was proposed by NPP MP Vijitha Herath and seconded by NPP MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. 

Earlier, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who had earlier announced his candidature from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy, with the SJB deciding to support Dullas Alahapperuma.