Ranil explains his dilemma

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that he did not know which side of the Parliament he represented at present.

Soon after the vote on electing a Deputy Speaker, PM Wickremesinghe said he was unable to attend meetings of the Opposition and had not attended any meetings of the ruling party as well.

“I am still standing at the entrance of the bridge and I am unsure on which side of it I stand as of now,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that he would have preferred a female MP as the Deputy Speaker.