Two new parliamentarians sworn in

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 09 April 2008, 10:28 GMT]
Solomon Cyril of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from Jaffna district, and M.Naushad of the United National Party (UNP) from Ampaarai district, were sworn in as new parliamentarians Wednesday in Sri Lanka's parliament. Speaker W.J.M.Lokkubandara administered oaths to them when the parliament resumed its sitting Wednesday morning, parliamentary sources said.



Solomon Cyril was appointed by the TNA to the post which fell vacant following the death of K.Sivanesan, who died in a claymore mine explosion triggered by the deep penetration unit (DPU) inside the LTTE held Wanni region. Solomon Cyril was next in line of the Jaffna district TNA list according to votes polled 2004 general election.

M.Naushad was appointed to fill the vacancy created following the resignation of Rauf Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to contest the forthcoming east provincial council election from the Trincomalee district as the chief candidate of the main opposition UNP.

Rauf Hakeem was elected to the parliament from the Ampaarai district on the UNP list. M.Naushad of the UNP was next in line according to votes polled at the last general election.