Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was to announce his ruling as to whether the joint opposition will be recognized as an independent entity in parliament.

Earlier, speaking in Parliament, Dinesh Gunewardena said that although 21 MPs of the joint opposition had already made a formal request to sit in the House as independents, the Speaker's ruling was yet to be announced.

The tense situation took place amidst the debate on increased female representation in local government bodies was taken up in Parliament.