Internal pressures against Nimal Siripala Desilva

Leaders of 7 constituent parties of the United People's Freedom Alliance(UPFA) have told the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa that they object to the appointment of MP Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Leader of the Opposition, MEP Leader and former Chief Government Whip, Dinesh Gunawardane said.

He added that they asked the Speaker to give them special recognition as Party leaders. Dinesh Gunawardane, Vasudewa Nanayakkara, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, DEW Gunasekara, ALM Athaulla, Wimal Weerawansa and Douglas Devananda met the Speaker before having a meeting among themselves. Nanayakkara added the President can't appoint both the Prime Minister and Opposition leader. Meanwhile, Gunawartdane added the security provided to former Minister Douglas Devananda has been removed. "He has been given special security by all governments. So we urged the Speaker to continue security," he said. Rajapaksa agreed to look into the matter.