Tele drama actor to replace Sri Lanka's jailed former Army Commander in the parliament

Sri Lanka's National Democratic Alliance (DNA) has decided to appoint Jayantha Ketagoda, a well-known tele drama actor to fill the vacancy of the party's Colombo district parliamentary seat.

The DNA parliamentary seat of Colombo district became vacant as the party leader, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was jailed by a court martial.

The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) member Lakshman Nipunaarachchi who was the next in the list of preferential votes refused to accept the vacant DNA leader's seat.

DNA parliamentarian Tiran Alles says that the party Central Committee that met yesterday decided to appoint Ketagoda who is the next of the list of the preferential votes to replace Fonseka.

Accordingly, Ketagoda is to swear in as a MP at the next parliamentary meeting to be held on March 09.

Ketagoda was elected to the parliament in 2001 under the United National Party (UNP) banner for Kaduwela Electorate. He joined the DNA during the 2010 Presidential elections to support the common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka.