The leader of Sri Lanka’s main Tamil party has questioned the legitimacy of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s position as the leader of the main Opposition in Parliament. The Tamil National Alliance’s objection came even as Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has already announced Rajapaksa as Opposition leader.

R Sampanthan, the TNA leader and the former leader of the opposition, stressed that Rajapaksa being recognized as the leader of the second largest group in parliament had raised questions.

Sirisena, who leads the UPFA, is a part of the government, how could his party also sit in Opposition at the same time, he asked.

There is a clear case of constitutional conflict over Rajapaksa’s appointment as the main Opposition leader. Sampanthan held the position of the main Opposition leader from 2015 until Rajapaksa was given the job last month.