Wimal seeks recognition from P’ment

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Opposition lawmaker Wimal Weerawansa yesterday sought due recognition from the Speaker as a state political party informing the house of his decision to leave the UPFA but to continue as a part of the Joint Opposition.

“Five of our members in this House presented a letter some time ago seeking due recognition as a separate political party in the Parliament. In this letter we informed you that National Freedom Front will continue to act independently in the opposition. There were many prior examples in this House. You held that members of the joint opposition will be recognised if they informed their breakaway from the SLFP or the UPFA. But in our letter we have informed of our decision to act separately by breaking away from the UPFA. So, you have the ability to recognise five of us separately but as a part of the joint opposition,” said MP Weerawansa.

However, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya required time to discuss matters with the Party Leaders. “I need to discuss this with Party Leaders. I will let you know your decision. There are 17 political parties in the Parliament and I need to have their opinion, which is democratic,” said Speaker. “Partly Leaders have no say on this. JVP left the UPFA sometime before and started sitting in the opposition with due recognition from the then Speaker. So, the JVP was recognised as a separate political party in the parliament without consulting the Party Leaders. We humbly request you to follow your own statement given before. I don’t have anything against you seeking opinion from the party leaders,” said MP Weerawansa in response. However, Minister of Higher Education and Highways and the Leader of the House of Parliament Kiriella wanted the National Freedom Front to inform the UPFA the decision to walk away from the coalition. “Actually we could consider this and help you if you have already informed the UPFA that you are no longer with them. That is the first step you should take,” said Minister Kiriella.