A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court challenging the bill presented to Parliament by the government to revoke the privileges of former Presidents.

The petition was submitted by the Administrative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Renuka Perera.

It is reported that the Attorney General has been named as the respondent in the case.

Last week (07), Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara presented the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill to Parliament, seeking to revoke the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, No. 4 of 1986, and abolish special benefits granted to former Presidents, their widows, and retired Members of Parliament.

The proposed legislation, published in the Gazette dated July 31, 2025, would end entitlements including official residences, monthly allowances, secretarial support, transport facilities, and pensions for former Presidents and their widows. (Newswire)

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MP Namal Rajapaksa has announced that if the government fails to take action against the misuse of parliamentary privileges to make false statements, he will introduce a private member’s motion to put an end to it.  

Speaking to the media following an event in Colombo, he stated that all those who oppose false statements in Parliament would support his proposal.  

“There is unlimited lying inside Parliament because MPs have been granted this privilege. It was given to raise public issues, not to spread falsehoods. This needs to change. If it is being misused and the government does not act, I will bring a private member’s motion to change it,” Rajapaksa said.  

He further questioned how many of the 225 MPs would oppose lying in Parliament, stating that those who speak the truth do not need such privileges.  

“If we speak the truth, we don’t need these privileges. I don’t need them. I don’t say anything in Parliament or outside that I haven’t done or cannot do. I also don’t assassinate another person’s character. Those who mislead the public will oppose this,” he added.  

Currently, legal action cannot be taken against statements made within Parliament, as MPs are protected under parliamentary privilege. However, Rajapaksa stressed the need to prevent its misuse for making false accusations or misleading the public. (Newswire)

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Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne says complaints on the actions of Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan will be forwarded to the Parliament’s Privileges Committee for further action.

Addressing the Parliament today, the Speaker said the special committee appointed under the leadership of Deputy Chairperson of Committees MP Hemali Weerasekera has investigated and submitted its recommendations. 

He further said the committee comprised NPP MP Hemali Weerasekera, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, and Opposition MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara. 

The Speaker went on to note that the matter, as recommended, will be forwarded to the Parliament’s privileges committee for further action.

Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne also announced that the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) has been informed to address the repeated requests by MP Archchuna Ramanathan for protection.

Stating that the MP had made multiple requests from him in this regard, the Speaker said the matter has been forwarded to the Acting IGP, who has been instructed to take the necessary measures in this regard. (Newswire)

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National People’s Power (NPP) MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi informed Parliament today that her Parliamentary privileges have been violated due to false news published by a prominent local media institution. 

MP Kottahachchi said the media outlet had published in both its English and Sinhala media platforms an article claiming ‘First-time MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi has said she was asked not to speak to the media by her party’.

Raising the matter in Parliament today, the NPP MP said the news had been circulated widely on social media and print media, emphasizing that it was false. 

MP Nilanthi Kottahachchi said her privileges have been violated by the publishing of such baseless, unconfirmed, and false news.

As such, she requested the Speaker to refer the matter to the Parliament’s Committee on Privileges for a comprehensive investigation and to take appropriate action in this regard.

Responding, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne said the matter will be referred to the Parliament’s Committee on Privileges. (Newswire)

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has questioned the government’s reasoning behind removing the privileges afforded to former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge and Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was involved in the murder of Chandrika’s husband and she had also suffered an injury to an eye from a bomb blast. 

“Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge has never supported me. We have only worked together to support Maithripala Sirisena,” he said. 

Commenting on Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former President pointed out that Rajapaksa losing his popularity among the public was a different matter but his security must be taken into account, considering the fact that he had ended the war.

Ranil Wickremesinghe further urged the government to remove all of his privileges and to allow the privileges provided to others to remain. 

Warning the government not to interfere with the Parliament system, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said a referendum would be required for such matters. (Newswire)

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Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has announced the maximum penalty that could be imposed for a breach of privilege by Members of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. 

Making the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday (Jan 09), the Speaker said the penalty is applicable where a charge-sheet issued by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges of Parliament against a Member of Parliament contains more than one charge for two or more separate offences, and the said Member of Parliament is found guilty of more than one of the charges set out in the charge-sheet.

He further said that the opinion of the Attorney General was sought regarding the maximum punishment that can be imposed in terms of Section 28 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 which was amended from time to time.

The Attorney General believes that it is punishable as per the provisions of Sections 5 and 16(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 subject to Article 66 (e) of the Constitution in consideration of the Articles 66 (e) and 67 of the Constitution, Sections 22 (3), 27 (1) and 32 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 which was amended time to time and Standing Orders 77 (1), 77 (2) and 77 (3) of the Parliament and Sections 5 and 16 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979, the Speaker revealed.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena further said that accordingly, it has been observed that the service of Parliament of a Member of Parliament can be suspended for a period exceeding one month under section 28 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act subject to a maximum of three months under Article 66 (e) of the Constitution where a member has been convicted of two or more separate offences in the charge-sheet for a single incident. (NewsWire)

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