It is learnt that the Joint Opposition (JO) decision to quit the UPFA and become independent members in Parliament to qualify for the Opposition Leader post would not come to fruition since several JO members have cautioned that such a move will result in losing their Parliamentary seats.
JO frontliner MP Kumara Welgama told the Sunday Observer that his personal view was that the implementation of the JO’s decision was in doubt and added that if 69 JO MPs quit the UPFA and become independent in Parliament, the party hierarchy could remove them from their Parliamentary seats and appoint another set of MPs.
He said the JO has already appointed a Committee of Experts to look into the implications of this move and report back.
SLFP National Organiser Minister Duminda Dissanayake that none of the SLFP MPs in the JO including former President Mahinda Rajapaksa can become independent until end of their Parliamentary term as they would lose their Parliamentary seat.
MP Welgama said he too agreed with what the Minister said. The JO heavyweight further said all of them contested under the UPFA banner. Therefore, if they quit the UPFA and become independent in Parliament, it amounts to their deliberately quitting the party and as such the Party could take action against them.