42 MPs leave govt. to be independent in Parliament

National Freedom Front Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa told Parliament yesterday that MPs of 10 constituents of the ruling SLPP would function as independent members.

Weerawasnsas said that the person who had plunged the country into crisis was occupying a front row seat in the House and that should be changed immediately. It was an error that should be rectified without further delay or there would be anarchy, MP Weerawansa warned.

Former President and Polonnaruwa District MP Maithripala Sirisena said that the SLFP group of MPs would also be independent. He said the 20th Amendment to the Constitution should be abolished and the 19th Amendment brought back with suitable amendments.

Ten SLPP MPs, namely Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, John Seneviratne, Susil Premjayantha, Chandima Weerakkody, Nalin Fernando, Dr Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Priyankara Jayaratne, Jayaratne Herath, Nimal Lanza and Roshan Ranasinghe, too, have decided to break ranks with the government and become independent MPs in the House.

Two CWC MPs, Jeevan Thondaman and Maradapandi Rameshwaram, too, parted company with the government to act as independent MPs.

Thondaman had also resigned from the post of State Minister of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure.

Accordingly, 42 MPs who had so far represented the government would thereafter work as independent MPs. There are 10 SLPP MPs, 14 SLFP MPs and 16 MPs who were from SLPP allied parties and two CWC MPs.