Several left-wing parties of the UPFA slammed the alliance for naming defeated candidates through the national list, denying representation to them.

UPFA MP and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena said that submitting a different national was against the UPFA constitution and parliamentary tradition. The parliament should investigate if there was any injustice done to those who were named in the original national list, he added.

Sri Lanka Communist Party General Secretary DEW Gunasekara said that the move was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Prof. Tissa Vitharana of Lanka Sama Samaja Party slammed the appointment of defeated candidates through the national list. Some of them have been appointed ministers, he added.

Meanwhile, Democratic Left Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that the UPFA leadership should have at least discussed the matter with those who were denied representation.

UPFA Parliamentarian Udayashantha Gunasekara was hospitalized on Thursday (17) following a sudden illness during a protest in Monaragala town.

Some residents of Monaragala protested earlier today, demanding a proper solution for spreading of hepatitis in the area.

The MP was admitted to the Monaragala Hospital. Reports said that arrangements were being made to transfer him to Colombo.

Udayashantha Gunasekara is a member of National Freedom Front (NFF) led by Wimal Weerawansa.

UPFA Rathnapura District MP Ranjith Soyza said that 47 UPFA MPs will definitely sit in opposition when the Parliament convenes on September 22.

Speaking to Asian Mirror on Wednesday (16) evening, Soyza said that they met President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday and announced their decision to sit in opposition.

Adding that those who sit in opposition have rejected all positions in government. They will act as a responsible opposition, supporting the government for positive programmes and vehemently opposing the negative ones, Soyza also said.

He argued that the current opposition, comprising of the TNA and the JVP, was artificially created by the government.

Former Minister Dullas Alahapperuma arrived at the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to Investigate and Inquire into Serious Acts of Fraud, Corruption and Abuse of Power, State Resources, and Privileges to give a statement this morning.

He will be questioned on the alleged default of payments to state media institutions for election advertisements of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Alahapperuma arrived at the Commission premises at BMICH and is currently giving a statement.

New Chief Ministers have been appointed for the Western and the North Western Provinces. Accordingly, Isura Devapriya was appointed as the Western Province Chief Minister while Dharmasiri Dassanayake was appointed as the North Western Province Chief Minister.

These decisions were taken following the meetings held between President Mithripala Sirisena and the UPFA members of the two provincial councils.

The positions were vacated when Western Province CM Prasanna Ranatunga and North Western Province CM Dayasiri Jayasekara were elected to Parliament.

Several UPFA PC members were vying for the positions in both provincial councils.

UPFA MP Bandula Gunawardena, who is one of the MPs sitting in opposition, stated at a recent interview that the confusion with regards to the Opposition Leader's position was created by the newly appointed UPFA General Secretary Prof. Vishwa Warnapala.

Speaking to BBC Sinhala Service, Gunawardena said that Warnapala has acted against the UPFA constitution and sent a letter to the Speaker without informing the partners of the UPFA.

Under such circumstances, the future of the UPFA is uncertain, he added.

However, acknowledging the fact that the confusion is a result of an internal crisis within the UPFA, Gunawardena also said that he was planning to speak with President Maithripala Sirisena over the matter.

Meanwhile, Gunawardena added that the Opposition Leader should be appointed from the largest group in the opposition, regardless of the ethnicity of the individual. The UPFA MPs in opposition constitute a larger group than the TNA, he pointed out.

A tense situation erupted in Parliament a short while ago as National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa opposed the appointment of R. Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader.

Addressing the Parliament, Weerawansa said that a request was made to President Maithripala Sirisena to name Kumara Welgama as the Opposition Leader.

A tense debate erupted following his announcement and the Speaker tried to control the situation, and asked Weerawansa to take his seat.