20 October 2023 09:33 am Views - 133
By Kelum Bandara
Following the Supreme Court ruling that led to the loss of parliamentary seat of former Minister Naseer Ahmad, some Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs who joined hands with the opposition have pleaded with the party hierarchy not to proceed with disciplinary action against them lest they will lose their seats in the House, Daily Mirror learns. Mr. Ahmad lost his seat after the Supreme Court affirmed his expulsion from his party Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) over his decision to vote for the 2021 budget along with the government contrary to the party’s official position.
According to an informed source, several SLPP MPs who defected from the party and sided with the opposition have requested party’s General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam and pleaded with him not to take action against them.
Among them is Galle District MP Chandima Weerakkody who started doing politics with the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Daily Mirror learns that he contacted the SLPP hierarchy and informed that he had nothing to do with the SJB.
He has responded in this manner when explanations were called from him by the party. Initially, he sought three months for it but responded immediately after the Supreme Court’s ruling on Mr. Ahmad’s expulsion.