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Parliament will elect a new Speaker today to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Speaker Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala, who was appointed as the Speaker of the Tenth Parliament.
Parliament is scheduled to meet at 9.30 am today under the patronage of Deputy Speaker Dr. Mohammed Rizvi Sally and the main business of the House will be the appointment of the Speaker. After Parliament meets today, the members nominated from the National List of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will take the oath and then the Speaker will be appointed.
If only one name of a public representative is proposed for the post of Speaker, that public representative will be appointed as the Speaker. If two names are proposed, a secret vote will be held.
It is also reported that several public representatives, including Deputy Speaker Rizvi Sally, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and Nihal Galappaththi, have been nominated for the post of Speaker from the NPP.
Ashoka Ranwala has stepped down from his position as Speaker of Parliament submitting his resignation to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recently. The Secretary to the President had informed the Parliament Secretary General Kushani Rohanadeera in writing that the President had accepted the resignation of Ranwala from the post of Speaker.
It is also reported that the SJB will also propose a name for the position of Speaker. MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna will be proposed by the SJB according to the SJB party sources.
Irangika Range
