Four MPs of Sri Lanka's opposition in limelight of possible defection

Four senior leaders of Sri Lanka's major opposition United National Party (UNP) are in the media limelight as speculations spread regarding possible defection.

UNP Gampaha district MP John Amaratunga accepted an invitation by the government and joined the President Mahinda Rajapaksa's 130-member entourage to New York to participate in the UN General Assembly.

Meanwhile, three more UNP MPs were outstanding at the vote for the extension of emergency regulations at the parliament yesterday. These three MPs abstained voting while the UNP had come to a decision to vote against the emergency extension.
The three MPs are Kandy district MP Lakshman Kiriella, Gampaha district MP Joseph Michael Perera, and Monaragala district MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara.