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The deepening uncertainty over whether Johnston Fernando and Indika Bandaranayake could retain their seats when parliament meets on April 6 took a dramatic turn yesterday with parliamentary authorities refusing to make arrangements for swearing-in the two new UNP members.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told a news conference that the parliamentary authorities had informed the UNP of their decision. “They have declined to make arrangements on the Swearing-in of two new UNP MPs in doubt
pretext the House is meeting on April 6 only to debate the extension of the state of emergency. But we do not accept this argument,” he said. Mr. Attanayake said the UNP wrote to Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara again yesterday requesting him to arrange for the swearing in of Anura Gopallawa and D.M. Bandaranayake who had been nominated by the United National Party (UNP) to fill the two vacancies created by Mr. Fernando and Mr. Bandaranayake losing their parliamentary seats. “Not to swear them in is unreasonable. There is no need for him to delay the swearing in,” he said. Mr. Fernando and Mr. Bandaranayake lost their parliamentary seats on March 9 following their expulsion from the UNP as they had crossed over to the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) during the presidential election. After they were expelled from the party, they filed a case in the Supreme Court. Later, they withdrew the case with the dissolution of parliament. Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Kitulgoda also informed the Elections Commissioner about two vacancies in the House. Subsequently, the Commissioner gazetted the names of Mr. Gopallawa and Mr. Bandaranayake as MPs.(DM)
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