Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, in a letter to President Maithripala Sirisena said continuing prorogation of Parliament will have serious and undesirable consequences for the country.

“I have received a request to protect the rights and privileges of Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe until any other person emerges from within Parliament as having secured the confidence of Parliament,” Jayasuriya said, in his letter.

The Speaker said he considered the UNP’s request to be democratic and fair. “I request you to consider the said request, as the leader of the government who has obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance.”

“You would also appreciate that the forcible takeovers which have been reported at state media institutions have been seen as transcending a mere internal breakdown of law and order and would have serious international implications,” Jayasuriya said.

Jayasuriya also said, “I consider my duty to draw your attention to the convention that a prorogation should be done in consultation with the Speaker.”