Dec 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party plans to expel two parliamentarians suspended from the party and pardon another for disobeying party orders and participating in an anti-government rally led by former Army Commander and Democratic National Alliance leader Sarath Fonseka.

The UNP in October temporarily suspended the membership of Puttalam district MP Palitha Range Bandara, Kalutara district MP Palitha Thewarapperuma and Kurunegala district MP Ashoka Abeysinghe pending a disciplinary inquiry after they attended the rally defying a ban imposed by the UNP working committee.

A senior UNP spokesperson has said that the report of the disciplinary inquiry is to be presented to the party leadership during the next working committee session,

According to the disciplinary inquiries conducted, two party members of the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts will be expelled from the party, local radio Hiru FM reported.

However, the Kalutara district member will be pardoned after he had accepted the fault during the disciplinary hearing, the report further said.

Reportedly, party leadership has issued instructions to complete all the disciplinary investigations conducted within the party by the next month.

The UNP also suspended the membership of UNP provincial councilors Shiral Lakthilaka and Maithri Gunaratne for attending the rally organized by the United Bhikku Front on behalf of the former Army Commander.

Former deputy leader of the UNP, Karu Jayasuriya, who was scheduled to attend the rally, decided last minute not to attend the protest rally saying that he ultimately bow to the majority will of the party.