2 new parliamentarians sworn in

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 May 2008, 10:46 GMT]
Sarana Gunawardene and Dulip Wijesekara were sworn in as new parliamentarians from the Gampaha district Tuesday when the parliament met for the first time after the New Year recess. Speaker W.J.M.Lokkubandara administered oaths at the commencement of the session, parliamentary sources said.

Sarana Gunawardene filled the vacancy created by the demise of Anura Bandaranaike and Dulip Wijesekara for the seat rendered vacant by the murder of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

Since January 2007 till Tuesday six new parliamentarians have taken oaths for seats rendered vacant.

Colombo district UNP parliamentarian Thiyagarajah Maheswaran was shot dead on January 1 while attending religious observance in Colombo Ponnambalavaneswarar Temple. Negombo district UPFA parliamentarian D.M.Dassanayake, a former minister died in a claymore mine explosion at Ja-ela during latter part of January. Sripathi Sooriyarachchi, a UPFA dissident parliamentarian died in a car accident later. Jaffna district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was killed in a claymore mine attack by the Deep Penetration Unit of the SLA in the LTTE held Wanni.