Jan 07, Colombo: Opposition party leaders of the Sri Lankan parliament have walked out of the party leaders' meeting today in protest over the government's decision to proceed with the debate on the Chief Justice's impeachment motion.

Members from the main opposition United National Party (UNP), the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) have walked out of the meeting.

The opposition representatives have said at the meeting that the debate on the impeachment proceedings should not go ahead following the Appellate Court ruling on the matter.

They have pointed out that the government's decision to go ahead with the debate ignoring the Court ruling was unconstitutional.

JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said the opposition parties felt the debate on the impeachment motion should not take place following the court ruling.

The government has however decided to hold the debate on the impeachment on the 10 and 11 January.

The vote on the motion is to be taken at 6:30 p.m. on January 11th.