Deputy Speaker Drama Takes Another Turn: Ranjith Siyambalapitiya Reigns Again

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, who was elected the Deputy Speaker of the House yesterday, has resigned from the position again.

Siyambalapitiya, a member of the SLFP, first resigned from the post after a political crisis broke out in the country.

After Siyambalapitiya’s first resignation, the SLFP, the independent group and other parties of the opposition decided to reappoint him to the position as the unanimous choice of the opposition. However, this took a different turn after the government also decided to back Siyambalapitiya’s appointment.

This forced the main opposition to nominate Imthiaz Bakeer Markar as the opposition’s choice and appoint the new Deputy Leader through a secret ballot.

At the vote, Siyambalapitiya was elected to the position with the support of 148 MPs.

In his new letter of resignation, Siyambalapitiya has expressed disappointment over the drama unfolded in Parliament yesterday. This development will force Parliament to have another ballot to the appointment a suitable candidate to the post.