Sri Lanka’s government assured parliament that it would not call the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of a bribery commission after MPs protested in parliament and Rajapaksa supporters protested outside.

MPs who protested in parliament overnight ended their protest on Tuesday, after the government it would not question Mahinda Rajapaksa over bribery allegations, reports Colombo Page.

The Sri Lankan President, confirmed that the next general parliamentary elections will be held after the 19th and 20th amendments to the constitution were implemented, reports Colombo Page.

Implementation of the 19th amendment to the constitution, which abolishes powers of the executive presidency has faced opposition by Sri Lankan parliament, with the supreme court recently ruling that parts of it could only be implemented after a referendum.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) passed a resolution stating that the situation in Sri Lanka remains a “matter of concern”, calling for the restoration of lands seized from Tamils and the implementation of the 13th amendment.

The 21st Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday said that though the Sri Lankan government has “promised and has taken certain steps... it is a matter of concern that the old situation continues by and large”, for the Tamil people on the island.

Over 60 MPs in Sri Lanka staged a protest against the summoning of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa by the bribery commission in parliament today.

The MPs, including Mr Rajapaksa's son Namal Rajapaksa, sat on floor and disrupted proceedings, causing the adjournment of parliament until Tuesday.

We are protesting in Parliament today against the Bribery Commission summoning @PresRajapaksa. #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/74mbmFT18t — Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) April 20, 2015

They handed over a petition urging a written assurance from President Maithripala Sirisena that the former president will be safe.

The UPFA MPs objected to the bribery commission's summoning of Mr Rajapaksa to appear before it on April 24, on charges he promised a ministerial post to former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake for his cross over.

The first planned transfer of asylum seekers on Nauru to Cambodia has been cancelled due to "logistical errors" Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.

However, activists say the refugees refused to sign the transfer documents.

Under a $40mn deal, refugees rejected by Australia, who are being detained on the island of Nauru, are being offered between AU$10,000 to AU$15,000 to accept a transfer to Cambodia.

Only 5 refugees, three Tamils, one Rohingya and one Iranian, are said to have agreed to the transfer.

The Tamil National Alliance MP MA Sumanthiran says the party has no allegiance to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and is not committed to their ideology, adding the TNA is not in favour of "terrorism".

Speaking to the Sunday Leader, Mr Sumanthiran said:

"[W]e do not have any allegiance to the LTTE nor are we committed to their ideology. We stand up for the rights of the Tamil people but we are not in favour of terrorism nor do we encourage it and everyone knows this."

Mr Sumanthiran also said there is no truth in rumours that the LTTE may return, saying the people are steadfast in not allowing "terrorism" to return.

"This is just an attempt by certain parties to create fear among the people. There is absolutely no truth in the claims that the LTTE is attempting to regroup. But even if there is such a move the people will not allow it or support it as it is they who have suffered the most during the war. Therefore the people are quite steadfast in not allowing such terrorism to begin again as they know that they will be the ones that are worst affected," he said.

The TNA, formed in 2001, officially backed the LTTE until 2009. Since the end of the armed conflict, the party leadership has offered contradicting views on its support for the organisation.