Speaker rejects Sampanthan's argument of conflict of interest for UPFAers holding posts in Govt. and Opp.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has said that he would not accept TNA leader R Sampanthan’s contention on the legitimacy of President Maithripala Sirisena’s position in the cabinet.

Addressing Parliament today (Jan 25), MP Sampanthan claimed that there was a conflict of interest since President Maithripala Sirisena is head of government and holds a cabinet portfolio while being head of the SLFP and UPFA while Mahinda Rajapaksa – who is a member of the SLFP/UPFA, serves as the Opposition Leader.

Speaker Jayasuriya in response said that it was the right of the President - as the leader of the government to hold a cabinet portfolio although another member of his own party was the Opposition Leader.

“The appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as an Opposition Leader was done on a customary basis since his party holds the majority in the Opposition,” Mr. Jayasuriya explained.

He also pointed out that there were several similar instances in the past during which a President has held a position in the cabinet while another member of his own party served as an Opposition Leader.

Mr. Jayasuriya drew reference to an instance in which UNPer D.B. Wijetunga was the President while the UNP continued to remain in the opposition along with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

While stating that this would not be the last occasion in which such a situation would exist, the Speaker suggested that such issues could be prevented in future by including relevant provisions in the draft constitution.