Steps have been taken to allocate a seat for Member of Parliament (MP) Kumara Welgama on the Opposition side following his request, Sergeant-at-Arms of Parliament Narendra Fernando said.
MP Welgama had written to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya asking to make necessary arrangements for him to sit in the Opposition when Parliament convenes on Friday (3).
Meanwhile, parliamentarians Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera and Wasantha Senanayake are allocated seats on the Government side upon their request.
The seating arrangements come ahead of the reconvening of Parliament scheduled for next Friday (January 3).
Parliament’s Sergeant-at-Arms said Sajith Premadasa will sit on the eighth seat in the front row on the left side of the Speaker as he will be officially declared the new Opposition Leader. The former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe will take the seventh seat based on his seniority.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will take the eighth and seventh seats respectively in the front row of the Government side.
“The Chief Government Whip and Leader of the House are not appointed yet. Their seats, fifth and sixth on the Government side are assigned,” Fernando said. He added that the seating is arranged according to the seniority of the parliamentarians. Seats assigned for leaders of other parties have not changed.