16 SLFPers cross over to Opposition

• Sit as independent SLFP group in Opposition

 By Skandha Gunasekara

The 16 SLFP MPs who voted in favour of the No-Confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe crossed over and took their seats among the Opposition in Parliament.

The 16 MPs crossed over to the Opposition at the commencement of the second session of the Eighth Parliament while the quorum bell was being rung prior to the entrance of President Maithripala Sirisena to the Chambers.

The group of 16 was led by SLFP MP Susil Premajayantha. The Joint Opposition MPs thumped their desks in welcome during the crossover and MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage was seen shaking hands with the Opposition newcomers.

Accordingly, SLFP MPs Susil Premajayantha, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Chandima Weerakkody, T.B. Ekanayake, W.D.J. Seneviratne, Thilanga Sumathipala, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Dayasiri Jayasekera, S.B. Dissanayake, Dilan Perera, Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Anuradha Jayaratne, Susantha Punchinilame, Lakshman Wasantha Perera, Tharanath Basnayake and Sumedha G. Jayasena crossed over to the Opposition

However, they will not be joining the Joint Opposition but will be seated as an independent SLFP group in the Opposition.

With the crossover of the 16 MPs, the Government numbers were reduced to 129 members without Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, while the Opposition now has a total of 95 MPs.

The Government consists of 105 UNP MPs, one SLMC MP and 23 SLFP members.

The breakdown of the Opposition is 55 in the Joint Opposition, 16 TNA MPs, six JVP MPs, one CWC MP, one EPDP MP and 16 SLFP MPs.

Additionally, several key MPs were missing during yesterday’s special parliamentary session where President Sirisena delivered his second Throne Speech.

The 15 government rank members absent yesterday were Ravi Karunanayake, Kabir Hashim, Wasantha Senanayake, Dilip Wedarachchi, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Mayantha Dissanayake Velu Kumar, Sirinal de Mel, Chaminda Wijesiri, Chathura Senaratne, Sandeeth Samarasinghe and Prof. Ashu Marasinghe.

In the Opposition ranks were MPs Mahinda Rajapaksa, Chamal Rajapaksa, Wimal Weerawansa, Namal Rajapaksa, Salinda Dissanayake, Dullas Alahapperuma, Keheliya Rambukwella and Premalal Jayasekera. 

Crossing the great divide!

Some of the 16 SLFP MPs, including former Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala, cross over to the Opposition yesterday to take their readily available new seats before President Maithripala Sirisena delivers the Government’s policy statement following the commencement of a new session of Parliament   - Pix by Shantha Rathnayake