The Speaker's ruling

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled this week that there would be no change in the Opposition Leader’s post. This was in response to a move by members of the UPFA’s Joint Opposition (JO) to secure the post for one of its MPs. Here are excerpts of the Speaker's ruling on the matter on August 10 in Parliament.

On August 1 2018, a letter signed by eight MPs was handed over to me requesting that UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena be appointed as the Opposition Leader. The MPs said in the letter that of the 93 UPFA MPs elected in the August 2015, 70 support this move.

They also requested more time in Parliament for debates as well as more representation in parliament committees.

I have made my decision not only based on the submission expressed by members on both sides of the house but by also after making an indepth study of parliamentary practices and procedures, discussions with experts and looking at parliamentary convention in other countries on such matters.

The post of the Leader of the Opposition is an essential one in preliminary system and is recognised in the constitution as well as by Standing Orders. The post goes to a member of a party that is not in government and holds the largest number of seats outside the government. A Parliamentary Resolution adopted on September 3, 2015 clearly states that the UNP and UPFA are partners of a National Government.

On September 3, 2015, I recognised Rajavarothiam Sampanthan as the Leader of the Opposition. My final decision is that, as the Speaker of Parliament, I am not in a position to make a change to the post of Leader of the Opposition, bound both by the Constitution as well as by Convention.

However the MPs of the UPFA who have decided to sit in opposition will be allocated adequate time for debate in Parliament as well as in Committees. I will pay special attention to ensure their rights as MPs are safeguarded.