Dr. Archchuna Ramanathan, a newly elected Member of Parliament from Jaffna, has become the center of controversy after occupying the chair designated for the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament chamber. Political sources from Jaffna revealed that he is now facing additional scrutiny over alleged violations of election laws.
Several political parties have filed complaints with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, claiming that Ramanathan failed to resign from his position as a government medical officer before contesting the election. These parties have urged the Election Commission to revoke his parliamentary membership, citing this breach of election regulations.
Ramanathan, who gained significant social media attention and secured 20,487 votes in the election, was already a polarizing figure. The controversy deepened when he refused to vacate the Opposition Leader’s seat, despite requests from parliamentary staff. He argued that MPs were allowed to sit wherever they desired. As a result, the Leader of the Opposition had to occupy another seat.
