SLPP MP Ajith Rajapakse elected as new Deputy Speaker

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

SLPP MP Ajith Rajapakse was elected as the new Deputy Speaker yesterday by a Parliament which seemed to be deeply divided on the choice and on the process followed in electing him.  

Mr. Rajapakse was elected by a majority of 31 votes with 109 members voting for him and 78 for his rival SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne.  

Some 23 members spoilt their votes while 13 members including former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Tiran Allas, Gevindu Kumaratunga, Duminda Dissanayake, Jagath Pushpakumara, Nalin Fernando, Roshan Ranasinghe, Nimal Lansa, Kumara Welgama, Jayantha Samaraweera and Ranjith Siyambalapitiya were absent during the time of voting.  

There was a debate whether to go for a vote or not with MP Wimal Weerawansa and Maithripala Sirisena who said their respective groups will spoil their votes if two members contest for the post. They called for a party leaders meeting so that the government and the opposition could come to an agreement on the post. “We can’t afford to waste funds by conducting a vote as we will be blamed by the people if we go ahead and do such a thing,” Mr. Weerawansa said.  

“We will spoil our votes,” he added. MP Sirisena also came out with the same remark.  

Deputy Speaker Rajapakse said he will do his utmost to act independently. “My name was nominated for the first time when former Deputy Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya resigned from his post but withdrew as my party decided to back Mr. Siyambalapitiya when he was nominated by the independent group,” he revealed.  

Defeated candidate Kaviratne said the SLPP members have isolated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by nominating Mr. Rajapakse’s name. “The Prime Minister earlier said he would back a woman as the Deputy Speaker but the SLPP have isolated him by nominating Mr. Rajapakse. This is one of a series of defeats which Mr. Wickremesinghe is about to experience,” she said. 

• MP Kaviratne said the SLPP members have isolated Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
• Mr. Rajapakse was elected by a majority of 31 votes
• 109 members voted for Mr. Rajapakse and 78 for  SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne