News
Eran kicks off second day debate on no-confidence motion against Speaker
The Speaker’s authority in legislative Councils all over the world is supreme, however in Sri Lanka in the current parliament we are not seeing that being demonstrated. It is drawn from the Speaker’s absolute and unwavering impartiality. This obligation of impartiality is demonstrated when the Speaker is only entitled to vote in the case of an equality of votes, said SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne, opening the debate on the second day of the No Confidence Motion in Parliament on Wednesday (20).
Wickramaratne analysed the occasions when Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena did not act independently or impartially after assuming the position of Speaker.
When the Online Safety Act was passed, the Speaker acted violating the standard procedure despite the Supreme Court’ determinations. Although the court declared that 31 of the 51 articles of the bill were inconsistence with the constitution, those articles that should have been passed by a special majority were allowed to be passed by a general majority.
While the Attorney General had promised the Supreme Court that amendments would be brought to the articles proposed by the court at the time of the committee stage debate, the Speaker having violated the constitution and standing orders signed the Act into law, despite the objections by the opposition party.
Wickrmaratne said that the Speaker’s impartiality is secured only when he remains above all considerations of party or political career and to that effect he may resign from the party to which he belonged. He mentioned that former Speaker Karu Jayasooriya never stepped in to “SriKotha” the UNP party headquarters since he became the Speaker. That sort of neutrality is expected from a Speaker to maintain his position of neutrality and honour.
Even when the President nominated Mr. Deshbandu Tennakoon to the post of IGP to the Constitutional Council, Speaker acted in a manner that is unbecoming of a person of that calibre clearly violating the Standing Orders.
Speakers of Legislative Councils all over the world have no voting right unless there is an equality in the votes cast. Parliamentary systems have evolved governance, procedures and practices over last 800 years. A healthy convention in several democracies established was that the election of the deputy Speaker is from the main Opposition. On the contrary in the Sri Lankan Parliament even the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises which was meant to inquire into corruption is also headed by a ruling party member. He said he fully agrees with the revised words for acronym COPE given by Chanakkiyan Rasamanikkam MP that it has now become Committee of Pohottu Enterprises.
In conclusion Wickramaratne said that if the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepts his mistakes and agrees to correct them the no – confidence motion does not need to be voted for, as we all know a vote does not resolve the issue of confidence and impartiality.
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
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