(MENAFN- NewsIn.Asia)
Colombo, May 17 (Newswire) – Ajith Rajapaksa has been elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka with a majority of 31 votes.
Rajapaksa was nominated by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and secured 109 votes in the secret ballot that was held in Parliament today.
He contested against MP Rohini Kaviratne, who was nominated by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and was only able to secure 78 votes.
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A secret ballot was held to elect a new Deputy Speaker after the post was left vacant following the resignation of MP Ranjith Siyambalalpitiya for the second time.
Even though new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had suggested that the opportunity be provided to a female parliamentarian to be appointed as Deputy Speaker, the SLPP went against the suggestion and nominated MP Ajith Rajapaksa.
Despite, heated arguments breaking out between the ruling and opposition party MPs on whether or not to hold the vote, the Speaker decided to proceed with a secret ballot.
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