President Rajapaksa’s brother elected new speaker of parliament
April 22nd, 2010 - 4:34 pm ICT by IANSColombo, April 22 (DPA) One of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s brothers was selected as the new speaker of Sri Lanka’s parliament Thursday, a day after official results confirmed a solid victory for the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).
Chamal Rajapaksa, 67, the president’s older brother and a former minister of ports and aviation was unanimously elected in the inaugural session.
The president’s younger brother, Basil, his son Namal and cousin Nirupama Rajapaksa are also among the 144 UPFA parliamentarians in the 225-seat assembly.
The elections were held April 8, but due to a re-poll in two districts following allegations of malpractices the final results were released only Wednesday.
Former army commander General Sarath Fonseka who was elected to parliament on an opposition ticket also attended the inaugural session. He is currently in military custody on allegations of conspiracy against the government and is facing two separate court martial trials.
The ex-army chief was arrested Feb 8, less than two weeks after he unsuccessfully challenged President Rajapaksa in the presidential elections.
The UPFA won by the biggest margin since 1977 and the victory was largely seen as a vote to Rajapaksa in appreciation for ending the 26-year-old civil war against the rebels Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Rajapaksa’s UPFA obtained 60 per cent of the vote while the main opposition United National Party (UNP) led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe received only 29.3 percent.
- Sri Lanka's ex-army chief says his detention 'unlawful' (Lead) - Apr 22, 2010
- Fonseka says he is victim of 'unlawful detention' (Second Lead) - Apr 22, 2010
- Sri Lanka's ruling party wins parliamentary elections (Lead) - Apr 21, 2010
- Sri Lanka opposition protests court martial of former army chief - Aug 17, 2010
- India hopes Rajapaksa win will give stability to Sri Lanka - Jan 28, 2010
- Sri Lanka opposition to back former army chief in polls - Nov 26, 2009
- Record low turnout marks Sri Lanka parliamentary polls (Second Lead) - Apr 08, 2010
- Sri Lankans begin voting for new parliament - Apr 08, 2010
- Sri Lanka's ex-Army chief arrested, to face court martial - Feb 09, 2010
- Ruling party wins parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka (Roundup) - Apr 09, 2010
- Sri Lanka's ruling party wins big in parliamentary polls - Apr 21, 2010
- New Sri Lankan cabinet sworn in - Apr 23, 2010
- Sri Lankan parliament dissolved - Feb 10, 2010
- Sri Lanka's president thanks voters for mandate - Apr 10, 2010
- Post LTTE, bitterly divided Sri Lanka set to elect president - Jan 24, 2010
Tags: army chief, army commander, chamal, commander general, former prime minister, freedom alliance, inaugural session, liberation tigers of tamil eelam, liberation tigers of tamil eelam ltte, mahinda rajapaksa, military custody, namal, nirupama, president mahinda rajapaksa, presidential elections, sarath fonseka, seat assembly, speaker of parliament, united national party, upfa