Parliament split over the vote on Deputy Speaker; SLFP threatened to cast invalid votes

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan Parliament met for the first time under Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe on Tuesday (17), and the proceedings took a tensed turn over the vote on selecting a new Deputy Speaker.

The post for Deputy Speaker of Parliament was left vacant after Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya stepped down from the post, twice.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) nominated MP Rohini Kaviratne, while the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) nominated MP Ajith Rajapaksa to the post of Deputy Speaker.

However, a majority of the Parliamentarians called on the speaker to terminate a vote without wasting time and money, and instruct the opposition leader and the prime minister to reach common ground on a suitable candidate, preferably a female candidate as requested by the Prime Minister.

Leader of the National Freedom Front Wimal Weerawansa slammed the call for vote stating that a voting process costs Rs. 9 Million from the tax payers money and by doing so, the entire parliament becomes a joke ifront of the people.

MP Nimal Lanza from the Independent group of MPs threatened to walk out of the chamber if a vote is called for, while Former President Maithripala Sirisena and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party said the SLFP MPs would cast invalid votes if a vote goes ahead.