Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday ruled that a privilege complaint submitted by SJB Kalutara District MP Ajith P. Perera did not constitute a prima facie breach of parliamentary privilege.

The ruling was made in response to a notice of privilege submitted by Perera on October 02.

Perera alleged that his parliamentary privileges had been breached over the failure to take formal action or reach a final decision on a written request submitted on August 03 by 18 Opposition MPs seeking the appointment of a Special Select Committee to investigate delays in the judicial system and prison overcrowding.

He had also requested that the matter be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges for investigation and recommendations.

In his ruling, Speaker Wickramaratne said the Speaker, as the Presiding Authority and guardian of the powers, rights and privileges of Parliament, could not be subjected to a privilege complaint or disciplinary inquiry by a committee subordinate to the Chair in respect of actions taken in an official capacity.

He said that, under the Standing Orders, the Speaker was required to independently determine whether a prima facie case of breach of privilege existed.

Referring a complaint against the Speaker to a committee functioning under the Speaker’s authority would, therefore, create a procedural contradiction, he said.

Accordingly, the Speaker ruled that Perera’s notice did not constitute a prima facie breach of parliamentary privilege and disallowed the request to refer the matter to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Shiranthi’s anticipatory bail application

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued notice on the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) to appear before court on October 12 in connection with an anticipatory bail application filed by former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

The application relates to an ongoing investigation into the financial affairs of the ‘Siriliya Saviya’ organisation.

Rajapaksa’s lawyers filed the anticipatory bail application on Monday (05), seeking an order preventing her arrest in connection with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka on Monday night from Malaysia after travelling overseas for medical treatment.

She had left for Singapore in the early hours of September 16, after being admitted to a private hospital, in Colombo, the previous day.

According to reports, she was taken directly from the hospital to the airport before leaving the country.

The Rajapaksa family has rejected reports that she knowingly left Sri Lanka despite being subject to an earlier summons issued by the FCID. The family has maintained that she had not been informed by the FCID of any such summons before she arrived at the airport.

A 10-member medical board yesterday informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court that former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director, retired Major General Suresh Sallay, could be discharged from the Colombo National Hospital.

Following the submission, Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris told Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasena that Sallay would be taken back into the custody of the CID after being discharged from hospital.

Sallay has been receiving treatment at the National Hospital, since June 07, including at the emergency care unit attached to the Cardiology Unit.

The medical board’s report stated that his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged. The court had previously been informed that his cardiac and mental health conditions were stable and that he could be discharged once treatment for a dental condition was completed.

A previous report by a nine-member medical panel had stated that Sallay had developed an enlarged heart and had been fitted with a medical device to manage the condition. The prosecution informed court that about Rs. 4 million in public funds had been spent on the device.

The court had earlier issued notices on the 10 doctors treating Sallay, directing them to appear before court today

(07), following facts presented by the CID through a motion.

Sallay is one of three suspects facing proceedings before the Fort Magistrate’s Court in connection with investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.

During an earlier hearing, the prosecution raised concerns that passwords to Sallay’s laptop and mobile phones had not been provided despite a court order. The defence maintained that passwords of military intelligence personnel were regularly changed for security reasons.

The Magistrate yesterday ordered that a report on the progress of the investigation be submitted to court on October 21.