SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayasekera has written to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the conduct of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne.

The text of the letter adressed to the UN: “Complaint concerning the alleged obstruction of a Parliamentary Privilege Question and interference with the freedom of speech and parliamentary privileges of a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka.

“I write in my capacity as a Member of Parliament of Sri Lanka to bring to your attention a matter which, in my respectful submission, raises serious concerns concerning parliamentary privilege, freedom of speech, procedural fairness, institutional independence and the protection of democratic parliamentary processes in Sri Lanka.

“I am a long-serving Member of Parliament with nearly twenty years of parliamentary service and have served in successive Parliaments since 2004. I have also previously served as Chief Minister of the North Western Province, a Cabinet Minister and a State Minister. I currently serve as a Member of Parliament for the Kurunegala District and as a senior political leader within the broader Samagi Jana Sandanaya (SJS) coalition, of which the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) is a principal constituent. I have also led the political faction representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party within the Samagi Jana Sandanaya.

“On 10 September 2026, I submitted a Privilege Question concerning the continued holding of office by the Hon. Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, while an investigation by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is reportedly pending concerning matters relating to the exercise of his official functions.

“A copy of the English translation of my Privilege Question dated 09 September 2026 is enclosed with this letter. The Privilege Question raises, among other matters, concerns relating to Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 9 of 2023, the Speaker’s role as Chairman of the Constitutional Council, his continuing control over Parliamentary proceedings while Parliamentary officers and documents may be relevant to the CIABOC investigation, and questions concerning institutional confidence and impartiality.

“On 10 September 2026, I requested permission to raise this Privilege Question before Parliament. However, the Hon. Speaker refused to permit me to present the matter and stated, in substance, that he wished to study the matter himself.

“This creates a fundamental institutional concern because the Privilege Question directly concerns the conduct and continued functions of the Hon. Speaker himself.

“The principle of nemo judex in causa sua — that no person should be a judge in his or her own cause — is a fundamental principle of natural justice and procedural impartiality. In my respectful submission, a person who is himself the subject of a parliamentary privilege complaint should not be placed in the position of determining whether that complaint concerning his own conduct should proceed.

“The Parliament of Sri Lanka has a Committee on Ethics and Privileges, whose functions include examining questions of privilege referred to it. My Privilege Question expressly requests that the matter be referred to that Committee for consideration and investigation.

“I am therefore deeply concerned that the Speaker’s refusal to permit my Privilege Question to proceed, coupled with his stated intention to personally study the matter, may undermine the independence and impartiality of the parliamentary privilege process.

“There is an additional and serious concern. While speaking during a Parliamentary debate on another matter, I attempted to raise the substance of this Privilege Question, but the Hon. Speaker intervened and stopped me from continuing my speech.

“Freedom of speech, debate and proceedings in Parliament is expressly protected under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953. The circumstances therefore raise a serious question whether my parliamentary privilege and my right, as an elected Member of Parliament, to raise matters before the House have been improperly restricted.

“I emphasise that I do not ask the Office of the High Commissioner to prejudge the allegations against the Hon. Speaker. Rather, I respectfully request that the matter be examined from the perspective of democratic governance, parliamentary independence, freedom of expression, procedural fairness and effective institutional remedies.

“I therefore respectfully request Your Excellency and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to:

1. take note of this complaint and the attached Privilege Question;

2. assess the circumstances concerning the refusal on 10 September 2026 to permit the Privilege Question dated 09 September 2026 to be properly considered through the parliamentary privilege mechanism;

3. consider whether the restriction placed upon my speech in Parliament raises concerns regarding freedom of expression and parliamentary privilege;

4. encourage the relevant Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that any complaint concerning the Speaker himself is considered by an independent and appropriate parliamentary mechanism, rather than by the person who is the subject of the complaint; and

5. encourage the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure an effective, impartial and transparent investigation and remedy concerning the matters raised herein.

“I respectfully request that this communication be treated as a matter concerning the protection of democratic parliamentary institutions and the rights of an elected representative to discharge his constitutional and parliamentary functions without improper interference.”