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Basil Rajapaksa’s name submitted to Elections Commission

06 Jul, 2021

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The name of former Minister Basil Rajapaksa has been submitted to the Elections Commission to fill the vacant Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National List seat in Parliament.

SLPP member Jayantha Ketagoda had today resigned from his National List seat to make way for former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament.

The Parliament media unit confirmed that Ketagoda had handed over his resignation letter to Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake today.

Basil Rajapaksa was set to take oaths as an MP today but the move was delayed following a rift in the Government over Rajapaksa?s entry to Parliament.

SLPP MP, Professor Ranjith Bandara was earlier expected to step down to make way for Basil Rajapaksa to return to Parliament.

Rajapaksa is also expected to be appointed as a Minister in the Cabinet.

Basil Rajapaksa left for the US in May on a private visit and returned to the country recently.

There were reports he went for medical reasons while others said it was on a family matter.

However, there was also speculation that he left following a rift with his brothers in the Government.?(Colombo Gazette)

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