Since Speaker Karu Jayasuriya ruled that former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa will take over as Leader of the Opposition, the TNA has had no representation on the Constitutional Council. Former Speaker and Hambantota District MP Chamal Rajapaksa, who was the nominee of former Opposition Leader and TNA Chief R. Sampanthan, has resigned his seat on the Council, to pave the way for Mahinda Rajapaksa’s CC nominee. The Sunday Observer learns that despite appeals by several senior members of the CC, Mahinda Rajapaksa is insisting on appointing Devananda to the Council, ignoring the TNA. However, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has to counter-sign to approve the Opposition Leader’s nominee, is refusing to approve Devananda’s name, the Sunday Observer learns. Douglas Devananda is a one-man party represented in Parliament.

Source: Sunday Observer February 23, 2019 20:03 UTC