Chamal refuses to be Speaker - Mahinda Yapa scores

Political sources say that Chamal Rajapaksa, a former Speaker, has rejected a request made by the strongmen of the People's Front to take over the post of Speaker of the new Parliament.

Rejecting the request, Chamal Rajapaksa has stated that he wants a ministerial post where the people can work.
He held several ministerial posts in the previous caretaker government, including the subject of agriculture.

Chamal Rajapaksa was the Speaker of the Parliament from 2010-2015 when the 18th and 19th Amendments were passed.

It is reported that the name of Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is in the forefront for the post of Speaker of the new Parliament which is scheduled to convene on the 20th.
He was elected to Parliament from the People's Front representing the Matara District and is a mature politician.
He was elected to Parliament in 1977 as a UNP MP representing the Hiniduma electorate. He left the government in 1987 against the Indo-Lanka Accord and joined the SLFP.
Since then he has won several elections as a Member of Parliament through the SLFP-led alliance and has also held several ministerial posts. Abeywardena has also served as the Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council.