Speaker to rule on Opp.Leader's post by Friday

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said today that he would announce his decision on whether there should be a change in the Opposition Leader’s post in Parliament by Friday.

The Speaker said this after lengthy submissions by MPs for and against calls to replace the current Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanath with a member of the UPFA’s Joint Opposition Group.

The JO which claims to have 70 members on its side argued that one among should be the holder of the Opposition Leader’s post as opposed to Mr. Sampanthan whose Tamil National Alliance (TNA) holds only 16 seats on the House.

UNP MPs who spoke today said that the UPFA which is part of national government cannot hold the Opposition Leaders post too.

“There are UPFA MPs who are in the Cabinet and are part of this Government. A section from the same party cannot hold the Opposition Leader’s post,” Leader of the House Minister Lakshman Kiriella said.

However, UPFA (JO) MP Dulles Allahaperuma said that their group has the support of 70 members and should be the   rightful holders the post.

The Speaker said he would make a final ruling on the matter by Friday.

(CK)