News

Govt. and Opposition Whips go-toe-to toe on rights of MPs under present and previous Speakers

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/6

by Saman Indrajith

Chief Opposition Whip Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday that the Speaker was not there to protect the interests of either the President or the government but to safeguard the interests of the MPs.

Kiriella said that while he was out of the Chamber his counterpart Chief Government Whip had made remarks against him for raising the issue of MP Rishad Bathiudeen being held on detention orders.

Chief Government Whip Highways Minister earlier in the day said that Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella had raised the issue of MP Bathiudeen in the presence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. “The Chief Opposition Whip spoke for MP Bathiudeen, while his party leader Sajith Premadasa in public disowned Bathiudeen stating that Bathiudeen was not a member of SJB. The Chief Opposition Whip and the Opposition Leader do not see eye to eye on this matter. The Chief Opposition Whip raised the issue with the intention of causing an embarrassment to the government while President Rajapaksa was in the Chamber,” Minister Fernando said.

The Chief Opposition Whip later after obtaining time from the Chair said: “In my absence the Chief Government Whip mentioned my name and said that my opinion on this issue of MP Bathiudeen was different from the Opposition Leader’s. I must remind the government that it is my duty under the British parliamentary tradition to raise the issues pertaining to the safety and the rights of the MPs in the Opposition. It does not matter whether they are from the SJB or the TNA or any other party, If there is an issue pertaining to an MP in the opposition, I am duty bound to take it up here. That is the tradition of the British parliament. It is sad that there are people who are not aware of these traditions. Under the same traditions the Speaker is duty bound to protect the rights of the MPs whether they are from government or the opposition.

Chief Government Whip Minister Fernando: “You state something else while your leader holds another opinion. Where were those traditions when Karu Jayasuriya was the Speaker? Incumbent Speaker ensures the democratic rights of all and gives us all equal time to speak. You are slinging mud at him.”

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New Court of Appeal Judge Sajeewani Dilka Lakmali Sworn In

Published

55 mins ago

2026/09/3

Priyan

Ms Sajeewani Dilka Lakmali Karunannayake was sworn in as a Judge of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (03).

She previously served as an Additional Solicitor General at the Attorney General’s Department.

The appointment has been made to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeal.

Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present on the occasion.

(President’s Media Division)

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Sun directly overhead Madampe, Thorayaya, Thotagamuwa, Rattota and Kalavanchikudy about 12.09 noon today (03)

Published

14 hours ago

2026/09/3

Priyan

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 (03) are Madampe, Thorayaya, Thotagamuwa, Rattota and
Kalavanchikudy about 12.09 noon.

News

22A: SC urged to suspend hearing, appoint full bench

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Attorney-at-Law Sugandhika Fernando, on behalf of the Vinivida Foundation, petitioned the Supreme Court yesterday (02), seeking a full bench, excluding Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, to hear the petitions challenging the 22nd Amendment Bill. She also requested that the hearing be suspended immediately until the matter was fully heard and determined.

Among the respondents are Chief Justice Surasena, the first respondent, and Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe. Justices Yasantha Kodagoda, Shiran Gooneratne, Achala Wengappuli and Priyantha Fernando have also been named as respondents.

The petitioner has sought to have quashed the decision of the first respondent to appoint a five-member bench, which she alleged was made in violation of the norms of public law. She also sought a bench comprising all Supreme Court judges, excluding those cited as respondents, to hear the special determination applications on the 22nd Amendment.

The petitioner further contended that Chief Justice Surasena, who is due to retire on December 1, 2026, would be the main beneficiary of the 22nd Amendment.

The hearing of the petitions continued for a second day yesterday (02) before a five-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena and Justices Achala Wengappuli, Arjuna Obeyesekere, Sampath Abeykoon and Gihan Kulatunga.

The hearing, which commenced on Tuesday morning, continued for nearly 12 hours, until 10:30 p.m.

Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne, appearing for the Attorney General, submitted yesterday that the Government had presented the 22nd Amendment Bill to the Constitution and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill with the objective of expanding and streamlining the country’s judicial system.

After the Solicitor General’s submissions concluded, counsel representing the petitioners requested an opportunity to respond to the Solicitor General and the intervening petitioners. However, the Chief Justice declined to allow the petitioners’ counsel to make further oral submissions, concluded the determination hearing and directed them to file written submissions instead.