Three names proposed for the Speaker post

The government is considering three names of NPP Parliamentarians for the Speaker post which fell vacant by the resignation of NPP government’s first Speaker Asoka Ranwala, government sources said.   

They are the current Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, Lakshman Nipunaarachchi and Nihal Galappatti.  

It is also learnt that a special party leaders’ meeting is scheduled to be held today to discuss the matter.

Nipunaarachci was first appointed as an MP in place of NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake after the latter was elected President in September. He was again elected to the House at the November 14 Parliamentary election from the Colombo District.   

Nihal Galappatti was the first MP appointed by the JVP in its history. He was appointed as a National list MP in 1994. He was elected from the Hambantota District.  
Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has also announced that it would propose a name for the Speaker post.