Tamil National Alliance (TNA) spokesperson and parliamentarian Mathiaparanan Abraham Sumanthiran (PC) in a letter has questioned, whether the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is a party in the Opposition.
He posed this question due to efforts being made to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Opposition Leader. After Rajapaksa resigned from the post of Prime Minister, which he held for over 50 days unconstitutionally, the Joint Opposition members proposed Rajapaksa to be appointed as the Opposition Leader.
TNA leader R Sampanthan was appointed as the Opposition Leader and continues in the post.
“According to established parliamentary tradition, a party in the Opposition does not participate in the Government.
Therefore, the UPFA cannot be considered as a party in the Opposition since the leader of the UPFA is the Head of Government and the Head of the Cabinet of Ministers.
He also holds the portfolios of Defence, Mahaweli Development and Environment. At present, President Maithripala Sirisena holds the Ministries of Law and Order and Media.
In this context, where the chairman of the UPFA is not only the Head of Government but also a Minister in the Cabinet with at least five Ministries under him, the UPFA cannot be considered to be a party in the Opposition,” the letter stated.
Considering the action of the UPFA and its placement within the Government, it can in no way be described as a party in the Opposition.
Citing another reason as to why Mahinda Rajapaksa cannot be legally appointed as the Opposition Leader Sumanthiran states that he had left the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and has joined a new party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and, therefore, Mahinda Rajapaksa and several other MPs had ceased to be Members of Parliament under Article 99 (13) (a).
Courtesy: Sunday Observer
