6 May 2022 09:26 am Views - 377
By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana
SLFP MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who resigned from the Deputy Speaker’s post recently was elected to the post by a majority of members in Parliament yesterday.
Siyambalapitiya was elected to the post by a majority of 83 votes with 148 members voting for him while 65 members voted for Imthiaz Bakeer Markar. Three votes were spoilt. Eight members which included Mayantha Dissanayake, S. Noharthalingam, Uddika Premaratne, Imran Maharoof, C. V. Vigneswaran, Wimal Weerawansa, R. Sampanthan and John Seneviratne were absent.
Siyambalapitiya was nominated by MP Nimal Siripala de Silva while MP Susil Premajayantha seconded him. SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara nominated Bakeer Markar and was seconded by Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena then called for a vote.
Several incidents were witnessed after the vote was called, with Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Chief Opposition Whip opposing the instructions given to the MPs to place their signatures on the ballot paper after making the vote.
Speaker then responded saying the instruction was given as per the standing orders.
The Speaker then warned some SJB MPs not to take photographs of MPs who were voting.
MP Eran Wickramaratne requested that votes should be destroyed immediately after the vote, but Speaker said it was not possible. However, he assured that the votes will be destroyed by the Secretary-General. The votes were put into a container which was sealed.