President Maithripala Sirisena arrived at the parliament a short while ago, to attend the parliamentary session this morning.

His arrival coincides with the beginning of the debate on the 19th Amendment to the constitution.

Sirisena’s move can be seen as a strategy to convince UPFA MPs to support the 19th Amendment. The amendment is seen as a ‘pet-project’ of Sirisena. Addressing the UPFA Convention on Thursday (23), he urged all MPs to support the amendment.

In his address to the nation later on the same day, he once again made the same appeal.