Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday denied the request made by the Joint Opposition (JO) to have UPFA MP Dullas Alahaperuma stand in as JO acting parliamentary group leader in the absence of MP Dinesh Gunwardena.

Speaker Jayasuriya had denied the request upon consultation with UPFA parliamentary group leader Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was at the session, noted that questions raised by party leader could not be assigned to others.

Several of the other MPs present asked the JO why they were trying to replace MP Dinesh Gunawardena so soon. 

MP Dinesh Gunwardena was removed from parliament and suspended for a week, for unruly behaviour.