COLOMBO – The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has called for an explanation from the four Members of Parliament who voted in favour of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution on Thursday (22), a statement from the party said.
The SLMC, which joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) alliance to contest this year’s general elections, had issued a three-line Whip (written notice underlined three time to denote urgency) to all its members to vote against the Amendment which gave President Gotabaya sweeping powers over Parliament and the Judiciary.
However, four SLMC MPs and the Assistant Secretary of the SJB alliance Diana Gamage broke ranks and voted in favour of the amendment.
On Friday (23) after a Parliamentary Group meeting the SJB Secretary-General Ranjith Madduma Bandara announced that all those who ignored the Whip would be expelled from the party.
The SLMC Party Secretary Nizam Kariapper said its own members had met soon afterwards and after a “lengthy discussion” the MPs who voted in favour of the 20A were asked to explain their position to the High Command of the party.
This would enable the party to take further steps on the matter a statement issued by Kariapper said.
The four MPs, H. M. M. Harees, Faizal Cassim, M. Thowfeek, and Nazeer Ahamed were present at the said meeting.
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