Parliament will hold a crucial secret ballot today to elect a Deputy Speaker. 

The UNP, the party which has the highest number of seats in Parliament, is likely to propose Ananda Kumarasiri for the post of Deputy Speaker. 

The Joint Opposition and the '16 group' of the SLFP are likely to be propose Sudarshini Fernandopulle. 

It is not entirely clearly whether the SLFP group in the government will propose a fresh candidate or support Fernandopulla. 

President Sirisena previosuly suggested the name of MP Angajan Ramanathan, but the TNA has categorically stated that the party will not support Ramanathan.