Lanka's Rajapaksa-led govt emerge stronger after defeat of Oppn candidate in Dy Speaker poll
COLOMBO: In a major victory for Sri Lanka's embattled Rajapaksa clan, their nominee on Thursday emphatically won a key vote for the a position of Deputy Speaker in Parliament, demonstrating the government's ability to prove their parliamentary majority despite raging public protests demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for mishandling the worst economic crisis in decades.
MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, who was backed by the ruling coalition led by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, was reelected as the Deputy Speaker with 148 out of 225 MPS voting in favour of him while Imithiaz Bakeer Markar, who was nominated by the main opposition the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) received only 65 votes.
Three votes were rejected, and six MPS including dissident government member Wimal Weerawansa were absent during the vote.
Siyambalapitiya, a member of the former President Maithripala Sirisena's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), had resigned as his party SLFP decided to stay independent of the government.
He had been bouncing back and forth between the deputy speaker position since early last month, and his re-election followed his latest resignation that was accepted by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on May 3.
Despite the SLFP going independent, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) decided to back Siyambalapitiya in their bid to show that the government majority was intact.
Speaking after his election as the Deputy Speaker, Siyambalapitiya said he had expected to be unanimously appointed by both the government and the Opposition.
The main Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa said they decided to field their nominee Markar as they had learnt the ruling SLPP was to back Siyambalapitiya at a possible secret vote.
Premadasa accused Siyambalapitiya as a “government stooge.” The government majority was seen as fragile since the decision by some 40 lawmakers from the ruling coalition declaring independence in view of the raging public protests calling for the resignation of the entire Rajapaksa family.
With more members from the ruling coalition calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to make way for an interim government of all parties, Rajapaksa stayed put claiming majority. The Deputy Speaker's vote appears to have restrengthened his position, experts said.