Speaker urged to take action on MP Ali Sabri Raheem

COLOMBO: Party leaders met, irrespective of government and opposition benches, decided to request Speaker to suspend Ali Sabri Raheem MP from parliament.

MP Raheem, elected to Parliament from the Puttalam district -— on the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) ticket —— nswitched his allegiance to the SLPP, at the very beginning of his parliamentary career.

The MNA was re-registered as United National Alliance (UNA) soon after the last general election.

Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said Speaker has the authority to take such an action.

Opposition Leader Sajit Premadas, MPs Mano Ganesan, M. A. Sumanthiran, and Lakshman Kiriella said opposition MPs had already handed over a petition to speaker.

Ali Sabri Raheem now belongs to government benches.

Hence the government need to take action by agreeing to suspend him from parliament.

The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has backed an Opposition move to suspend MP Ali Sabri Raheem from parliament.