Major opposition party of Sri Lanka to appoint Kiriella as Chief Opposition Whip anticipating crossover of the incumbent

Political sources in Sri Lanka speculate that United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian and Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga may cross over to the government following his current tour in the United States.

The Chief Opposition Whip earlier accepted an invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to be in the entourage of the President to the US to participate in the UN General Assembly but later turned it down.

Amaratunga had informed the party that he would go to US on a private visit to see his daughter who lives there, said the UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe recently.

However, UNP sources say that the possible crossover of the MP John Amaratunga is expected and the party has decided to replace the position of Chief Opposition Whip with MP Lakshman Kiriella, in case of such a crossover.