Selections Committee: 121 MPs From UNP, JVP And TNA Vote In Favour While UPFA MPs Skip Electronic Vote

November 23, 2018

After a heated debate on the composition of the Parliament Selections Committee, 121 lawmakers from the UNP, the JVP and the TNA voted in favour of the composition suggested by the Speaker. 

The Speaker suggested appointing five members each from the UPFA and the UNP and one member each from the JVP  and the TNA to the 12-member committee. 

As the UPFA and other political parties could not arrive at an agreement on the composition of the committee, the Speaker decided to conduct a vote on the matter. A vote was taken via an electronic system and 116 MPs voted in favour of the committee. Five more members, including TNA Leader R. Sampanthan and UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella voted by name. 

As the vote was announced, all UPFA MPs walked out of the Parliamentary chamber. The Parliamentary session was conducted without the UPFA MPs and the lawmakers proceeded with the vote.