The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has issued a clarification to address the controversy surrounding the party’s move to propose MP Ajith Rajapaksa for the post of Deputy Speaker.
Several media reports and allegations had been made that the SLPP’s decision had been influenced by MP Basil Rajapaksa, while the party had also openly disregarded the suggestion of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In a statement, the SLPP said that it had decided to propose the name of MP Ajith Rajapaksa for the post of Deputy Speaker in two of its Parliamentary Group meetings held before the vote in Parliament.
The SLPP said that former Finance Minister and MP Basil Rajapaksa had not been in attendance at the said meetings and the decision was made following a common consensus at the meetings.
The SLPP also revealed that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had not informed the party or suggested to them that the opportunity be given to a female parliamentarian.
Ajith Rajapaksa was elected as the new Deputy Speaker of the Parliament in a secret ballot held yesterday. He won with a majority of 31 votes after contesting against opposition MP Rohini Kaviratne.
The SLPP had proposed Ajith Rajapaksa’s name despite the Prime Minister having openly requested that the opportunity be granted to a female Parliamentarian.
Despite several opposition MPs calling for the vote to be called off and for the Prime Minister to hold a discussion with the party leaders and appoint a female MP as Deputy Speaker, the SLPP rejected the proposal.
The SLPP called for the secret ballot to proceed to appoint the Deputy Speaker from the two names proposed, disregarding the Prime Minister’s earlier request. (NewsWire)
