No decision on Basil entering parliament : SLPP

COLOMBO (News1st):  The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has rejected claims that moves are underway to nominate its national organizer Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament. SLPP secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said Rajapaksa, will take oaths publicly if he is to enter parliament, and that he has not expressed willingness to occupy the position. "If he enters parliament it would be good. There is nothing wrong in that," Premnath C. Dolawatte, an SLPP lawmaker said on Tuesday. He added that it was Basil Rajapaksa who gave the leadership to form the SLPP following former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's defeat at the 2015 presidential poll. "He was a person who worked hard to elect this government to power. We will not raise any objection if he enters Parliament," environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. Government parliamentarian Dilan Perera said it is at the discretion of Basil Rajapaksa to decide whether he wants to enter Parliament.