• 148 members voting for him while 65 members voted for Imthiaz Bakeer Markar

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.   

•  Siyambalapitiya was nominated by MP Nimal Siripala de  Silva while MP Susil Premajayantha seconded him