Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that a decision and statement made by the Speaker amounted to a violation of the Constitution and the sovereignty of the people. Speaking in reply to the Speaker’s ruling in Parliament, he emphasised the democratic principles of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances among the executive, legislature, and judiciary, all of which derive authority from the people.

The Opposition Leader said Parliament had a constitutional responsibility to safeguard people’s sovereignty and stressed that bodies such as the Constitutional Council were established to strengthen checks and balances and protect the independence of the judiciary.

Premadasa noted that calls for a parliamentary committee were intended to promote and safeguard judicial independence.

The Opposition Leader asserted that the Speaker’s decision constituted a fundamental breach of the Constitution and a violation of the people’s sovereignty as well as their fundamental and human rights.

His comments come in response to Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne’s delivery of a ruling under Standing Order 27(3), declaring out of order a motion submitted by 31 Members of Parliament to appoint a Select Committee to examine the powers of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya told Parliament yesterday (09) that the Academic Advisory Board of the National Institute of Education (NIE) has decided that no web links will be included in modules prepared for the second and third school terms under the government’s education reform programme.

Making a statement in the House, the Prime Minister said the websites and other online sources currently referenced in existing modules are freely accessible and do not require any form of payment. She stressed that the use of government websites does not raise issues of transparency, accountability or procurement.

Dr. Amarasuriya said the Task Force for Digital Transformation in Education has conducted a study on child protection concerns related to digital usage and has formulated a policy and set of guidelines in response. These policies and guidelines will be submitted to the NIE Academic Advisory Board in due course, she added.

The Prime Minister assured Parliament that no institution would derive any financial benefit from the ongoing education reforms. She noted that nearly 92 percent of primary-grade teachers have already received the required training to implement the new curriculum.

However, she acknowledged that training programmes could not be conducted in some provinces due to disaster situations experienced across the country in recent months. Arrangements are expected to be made to provide training for the remaining teachers before the commencement of the school term for Grades One and Six, she said.

Dr. Amarasuriya also clarified that internet usage is not mandatory for the implementation of the new educational activities, and that teachers may use it only as a supplementary learning aid. She said all content related to the new modules has been incorporated into the Teachers’ Guides, allowing lessons to be conducted without relying on internet-based applications.

She added that student evaluations are expected to be carried out through a computer-based application in the future. Training programmes in this regard were conducted in 2025, and further steps will be taken to strengthen teachers’ technological skills, the Prime Minister said.

Former Minister Johnston Fernando, his two sons, and two others, were further remanded, until 23 January, by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure.

Fernando and his youngest son, Gerome Kenneth Fernando, was first arrested by the Commisson to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remanded until 09 January. On 05 January, his other son, Johan Fernando, who had been previously arrested for the same offence, was also remanded until 09 January.

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) took the five into custody following allegations that Sathosa state property, including a lorry, was misused for personal or private company purposes, causing significant financial loss to the state. Police had previously warned that an arrest warrant would be sought if the former Minister failed to appear before the FCID as scheduled.

Indika Ratnamalala, former Transport Manager of Sathosa, during Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January. He was produced before the Wattala Magistrate and remanded until 09 January.

Ratnamalala faces charges of falsifying documents at the request of Johan Fernando to facilitate the use of a Sathosa-owned lorry for duties at a company allegedly owned by the former Minister.

The court was informed that the investigations into the alleged misuse of state property are ongoing.