The United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has decided to nominate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be the Leader of the Opposition. The decision was taken at the UPFA parliamentary group meeting held today (18), that was chaired by president Maithripala Sirisena. .
When parliamentary proceedings began, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that he would recognise Rajapaksa as the leader of the opposition. However, raising objections, TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that the parliament should be allowed to investigate the suitability of the former president to function as the leader of the opposition since questions have been raised regarding his eligibility to continue as a member of parliament as he has joined the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem also noted that Rajapaksa has ceased to become a MP. Hakeem said that Rajapaksa had contested from the UPFA at the last general election but had resigned from the party and joined SLPP and therefore his seated has been vacated.
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