• First time Tamil national has held the position since 198

Veteran politician Rajavarothiam Sampanthan was yesterday appointed as the Opposition Leader of the eighth Parliament, becoming the first Tamil national to hold the post in 32 years. 

Making a special announcement, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya moved UPFA’s written submission received giving up the claims to the office of the Opposition Leader, which was rightfully offered to Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) Parliament Group Leader MP Sampanthan. 

ITAK holds 16 seats, which is the second highest number of seats in the Opposition of the eighth Parliament. MP Sampanthan is the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance; a stakeholder of the ITAK.

“We will oppose the Government on all issues, where it is in the national interest to do so,” Sampanthan told Parliament in his debut speech as Opposition Leader. “We will support the Government on all issues, where such support is justified.” 

MP Sampanthan was born on 5 February 1933. He was educated at St. Patrick’s College Jaffna, St. Anne’s College Kurunegala, St. Joseph’s College Trincomalee and St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa. 

Having completed secondary education, he joined Ceylon Law College. Graduating as an Attorney at Law he started a practice in Trincomalee. He joined ITAK in 1956 and entered into active politics.

Opposition lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa changing the Speaker’s notice held a letter requesting a UPFA lawmaker to the office of the Opposition Leader was handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena a few days before.

“The letter contained 55 signatures supporting the MP Kumara Welgama as the Leader of the Opposition and Mahindananda Aluthgamage as the Chief Opposition Whip,” he said.

Joining the heated debate, Chief Government Whip Lakshman Kiriella held the Speaker’s decision is the final and that it cannot be challenged.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cautioned Opposition members to behave and to follow procedures if they seek to challenge the Speaker’s decision. (AH)