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Sajith reiterates his opposition to summoning journalists before privileges committee
By Saman Indrajith
Summoning journalists before the parliamentary privileges committee would set a wrong precedent and be a blow against media freedom, Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday.
President called on the Prime Minister and the Leader of the House to refrain from summoning a group of Neth FM journalists before the parliamentary privileges committee.
“I requested you Tuesday not to summon these journalists. I need to know from the Prime Minister the progress with regard to my request. Bringing journalists before the privileges committee would have serious outcomes,” Premadasa said.
Leader of the House Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that the Opposition leader was raising the same issue that he had raised on the previous day. “The journalists are summoned before this committee only after an MP raises a privilege issue. We can discuss this matter when the Speaker is back in the country. It is the Speaker who decides who should be summoned on the basis of the privilege issue raised by an MP. We can look into this matter after the Speaker returns.”
Opposition Leader Premadasa said that the Speaker gave the instructions only on the basis of decisions made by others in the government and requested to stop summoning the Neth FM journalists.
Leader of the House: One of those journalists is a friend of mine. I came to know that he too is on the list of those being summoned only after this issue is raised here.
Opposition Leader: You are about to set a wrong precedent. This matter should not be viewed on the terms of friendship with journalists. Look at this matter in terms of media freedom. Summoning journalists before the privilege committee would set a wrong precedent and it is time for you to stop that.
News
Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 02 SEPTEMBER 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 02 September 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
The atmospheric conditions are getting favorable for afternoon thundershowers in the Northern, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces in the next few days.
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Eastern and Uva provinces and in Mullaitivu district after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the Central hills, the North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Matale districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Latest News
Sun directly overhead Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon today (02)
The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.
The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (02) are Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon.
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected a request that the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution be heard by a full bench of the Supreme Court.
Rejecting the request, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena said the consideration of the petitions would proceed before the five-judge bench.
Appearing on behalf of one of the petitioners, President’s Counsel M. A. Sumanthiran made the request when the petitions were called for hearing yesterday before a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Surasena.
President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris, Ali Sabry, Geoffrey Alagaratnam, Eraj de Silva, Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda, and Maithri Gunaratne, along with other counsel appearing for several other petitioners, also made the same request.
Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, pointed out that the authority to determine the composition of a judicial bench rested with the Chief Justice. Refering to Article 132(3) of the Constitution, the Solicitor General argued that the discretion to determine the number of judges on a bench lay with the Chief Justice and that no other party had the authority to interfere in the matter.
Counsel including President’s Counsel Nigel Hatch, appearing for an intervening petitioner, also made submissions pointing out that the discretion to determine the composition of a bench rested with the Chief Justice.
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Showers will occur in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Sun directly overhead Anamaduwa, Moragollagama, Dambulla, Manampitiya and Valaichchenai, at about 12.10 noon today (02)
SC rejects petitioners’ request for full bench
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