The Speaker has agreed to allocate the premier's chair to the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed as prime minister on Friday after the surprise sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe, which has left the country in a state of political crisis with parliament prorogued by the president.
The Speaker's spokesperson said the chair allocation was part of the gazette notification regarding the appointment of Rajapaksa.
Rajapaksa today announced that the president has decided to reconvene parliament on November 5.
Since the appointment of Rajapaksa a number of UNP MPs have jumped ship and pledged support to the former president.
UNP MP Ajith Perera welcomed the decision to reconvene parliament as a chance to prove the UNP still held its majority.
"Although we requested Friday, it's convened on Monday now, we welcome it, we have 124 MPS with us. Monday we will prove we have the majority," Perera told journalists.
