In an unexpected twist during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa found himself ousted from traditionally assigned seat for the Opposition Leader in Parliament Chamber.

The drama unfolded when Dr. Archchuna Ramanathan, a newly sworn-in MP, took the Opposition Leader’s seat and adamantly refused to vacate it. Despite staff members politely requesting him to move, Dr. Ramanathan stood his ground, defiantly declaring, “We changed the tradition.”

With no resolution in sight, Premadasa was left with no choice but to take the seat next to the one designated for the Opposition Leader.