• Senior politician gained 5th highest preferential votes in Matara District
• Chamala Rajapaksa has not shown interest in reappointment to post held between 2010-2015
• Ex-President Sirisena had shown interest in serving as Speaker

Senior Southern politician Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is to be named Speaker of the ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Abeywardena is the most favoured, according to political sources, as Chamal Rajapaksa, who was tipped to be appointed to the post, has indicated he prefers the subject of Agriculture and Irrigation as he has once served as the Speaker.

Yapa who came fifth in the Matara preferential election list has been a parliamentarian since 1983, first entering Parliament as a UNP MP by winning the by-election held to the Hakmana electorate.

Yapa, who was one of the two MPs to vote against the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which came about as a result of the signing of the Indo-Lanka Accord in 1987 was removed from the UNP for violating party rules and later joined a breakaway faction of the UNP. 

He joined the SLFP in 2015 and has held several ministerial posts.

He was appointed as the State Minister for Irrigation and Rural Development by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa Development in November.

Meanwhile, the Daily FT also learns that former President and newly elected MP Maithripala Sirisena had also requested to be considered or appointed as Speaker. However, this could not be confirmed.

Record-setter Mahinda sworn in as Prime Minister