Pro-MR MPs to disengage from House

• At meeting with President, decide to request increase in SC bench hearing petition 
• Likely to stage more walkouts and boycott votes, but will attend sessions

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Parliamentarians and others loyal to MP Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday decided to continue attendance in Parliament and follow Standing Orders but be disengaged from House activities when they met President Sirisena to discuss the way forward.     

“The committee, consisting of Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Joint Opposition MPs, met to discuss future political strategies and how best to collaborate in the future,” a top member of the SLFP told Daily FT. 

Even though they would continue to be present in Parliament, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) as well as other MPs partial to MP Mahinda Rajapaksa may stage more walkouts and refuse to participate in the House proceedings. 

“We will not participate in Parliament affairs and will respond as we did today,” he said, adding: “We will wait till the court case is over to take action.” 

At the meeting, the Parliamentarians had also decided to request that the Supreme Court bench hearing the petition on the Gazette dissolving Parliament be increased beyond the existing three members.  

“We have asked for a fuller bench. It has to be either seven or nine judges,” he said.