Gayantha tipped to be chief opposition whip

Former chief government whip Gayantha Karunatilleke is tipped to be the new chief opposition whip in keeping with the practise adopted by the United National Party (UNP) to appoint the former chief government whip to the post, UNP MP Vajira Abeywardene said today.

He said his party was ready to support the government to approve the legislation necessary to provide concessions to people.

“The government can even hold parliamentary sessions daily for long hours to get approval for all important people-friendly legislation. We will support the government for this purpose,” the MP said.

Mr. Karunatilleke when contacted by the Daily Mirror about the post of chief opposition whip said the matter will be confirmed today. “I will be able to handle this post as I successfully handled the post of government whip during the previous regime,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abeywardene said he had visited the Narahempita Economic Centre where he found prices of vegetables were high. When asked why UNP MPs were visiting the economic centers and shops, he said there was nothing wrong even if the MP s visit economic centers and fairs on a daily basis to check on the prices of essential goods and demand that the prices of essential food items be reduced.(Yohan Perera)