National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa said that the opposition leader of the Parliament should be chosen by MPs who sit in opposition and not the President.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya, Weerawansa said that the President is killing the country's democracy by appointing the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the Opposition Leader and the Chief Organizer of the Opposition all by himself.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party Central Committee permitted its elected MPs to sit in opposition if they do not wish to support the national government. However, reports later said that the SLFP Central Committee will take a decision on the Opposition Leader post.

Maithripala Sirisena wields considerable power within the SLFP CC as the party President.

Wimal Weerawansa said that it was not sufficient to allow SLFP MPs to sit in opposition. They should be free to act as they wish within the opposition, he said.