Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva recently alleged that National People’s Power (NPP) Government members had forced their way to grab the chair of the Sri Lanka-US Parliamentary Friendship Association.

De Silva had posted on X that the chair, traditionally taken by the person convening the initial meeting, had been forcibly taken by NPP MPs and that SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna had withdrawn to make way for the Government member.

“Forcing friendship on the Americans! In my 15 years in @ParliamentLK, I have not seen what I saw today in reestablishing the #LKA #USA Parliamentary Friendship Association. The #JVP #NPP Government forced its way to grab the chair (traditionally taken by the person convening the first meeting) and all other offices! Argument was: ‘We don’t need to follow tradition.’ Then counter argued ‘it was always a minister who chaired’. Fact: last Chair Chandima Weerakkody was just an MP. Anyway, glad Harshana maintained our dignity and withdrew,” the SJB MP had claimed in the post.

De Silva had also shared photographs of the meeting where Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne was seen seated next to US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, who inaugurated the event, alongside Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, and Deputy Minister Anil Jayantha Fernando.