May 04, Colombo: A legal controversy over a the parliamentary seats of the dissidents from Sri Lanka's Marxist Party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramauna (JVP) has propped up as they have decided to launch a new political party.

JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva told media yesterday, if the dissidents start a new party their parliamentary posts would be cancelled, as no one can represent two parties at once. He said that since the dissidents contested for the last election representing the JVP, the party still has the right to take disciplinary action against them. Party’s politburo will take a decision on this regard soon, he added.

Meanwhile, responding to the JVP’s claim, dissident group member MP Piyasiri Wijenayake told media that the JVP has no legal power to cancel their MP posts. This is because that they had contested under the ruling United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the last general election, he added.