Council chairman T.M.R. Siripala announced that N.V. Samantha was appointed to the post as it was vacant after Sampath Sri Nilantha Wickramarachchi was given a ministry position.
Our correspondent stated that the Opposition members of the UNP were not present at the time of the appointment.
13 minutes after the session began, the UNP Opposition members were seated in the council.
Later, the Opposition leader questioned how the leader of the house was appointed without compromising the Opposition.
A tense situation erupted at that time and, the council session was adjourned for 5 minutes.
Later council chairman T.M.R. Siripala convened a political party leaders meeting.