Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Reforms Dr. Harsha de Silva asked how President Maithripala Sirisena could take a "bunch of opposition MPs" as members of a government delegation on an overseas tour. 

"How can President Maithripala Sirisena take a bunch of opposition MPs as his ‘government delegation’?" De Silva tweeted, a short while ago. 

Several opposition parliamentarians were included in President Maithripala Sirisena's official delegation to the Philippines during his five-day tour. 

Opposition MPs Dilan Perera, Nishantha Muthuhettigama, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Saradi Dushmantha, Lakshman Perera, Angajan Ramanadan and Sirayani Wijewickara were among the members of the delegation.

The only senior government member in the delegation was Foreign Minster Thilak Marapana who signed several MOUs with the government of the Philippines. 

When contacted by us, a senior spokesman from the President's Office said it was up to the President to select the members of the delegation. 

"It was the President's decision. Usually, these opportunities are restricted to government MPs. Perhaps the President wanted to break away from that tradition," he added. 

The Spokesman also said such practices are not unprecedented in Sri Lanka. "For Instance, when John Amaratunga was an opposition MPs, he was made a member of a Presidential delegation led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, to Rome."