The Elections Commission announced that former MP Ajith Mannapperuma's name will be gazetted to fill the vacency of MP Ranjan Ramanayake.

The Parliamentary Secretary General yesterday informed the National Elections Commission that Ramanayake's MP seat has been vacated due to his conviction for contempt of court.

Mannappruma is the next in line on the preferential vote list in the Gampaha district.

However, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and many other SJB MPs argued in Parliament yesterday that Ramanayake could still challenge the ruling given by the Court of Appeal on his MP seat.

Premadasa said Ramanayake's MP seat should not be declared vacant until the full process is completed.