The main Opposition SJB yesterday strongly criticised the government over the suspension of Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, alleging that the procedure adopted was flawed, unlawful and in violation of established parliamentary traditions.

Addressing a press conference at the SJB headquarters in Ethul Kotte, former Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella said the Speaker had no authority, under Parliamentary practice, to remove or suspend a senior parliamentary official without first reporting the matter to the House.

Kiriella said Sri Lanka’s Parliament was governed by two primary sources — Standing Orders and long-standing British parliamentary traditions and precedents — both of which must be adhered to in the absence of explicit statutory provisions.

“The Standing Orders derive their authority from the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act, which is silent on the procedure for removing parliamentary officials. In such circumstances, Parliament is bound by British traditions and precedents, as outlined in Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice, which is regarded as the bible of parliamentary procedure,” he said.

According to Kiriella, Erskine May makes it clear that the Speaker does not possess unilateral powers to remove a parliamentary official, particularly one holding a senior and “exalted” position, such as the Deputy Secretary General.

He said that where allegations warranting removal are made against a parliamentary official, the Speaker is required to submit a detailed report to the House outlining the charges, supporting evidence and reasons for initiating such action. Only, thereafter, could the House decide on the matter, in keeping with British parliamentary precedent.

Kiriella said the recent decision to suspend Kularatne had instead been taken by the Staff Advisory Committee (SAC), which he described as an administrative body lacking the powers and privileges vested in recognised parliamentary oversight committees such as COPE, COPA and COPF.

“The Staff Advisory Committee does not enjoy the powers of the House and, therefore, has no authority to suspend a parliamentary official,” he said.

While stating that he did not place personal blame on the Speaker, whom he said had limited experience in parliamentary procedure, Kiriella faulted senior officials and members of the SAC for failing to properly advise him on the legal and procedural implications of the decision.

“This is the first time in parliamentary history that a Deputy Secretary General has been removed or suspended. While MPs and officials are familiar with impeachments and no-confidence motions, they are not sufficiently versed in the procedural propriety required for the removal of parliamentary officials,” he said.

Kiriella further alleged that Kularatne had not been served with a formal charge sheet, nor had he been given an opportunity to respond to the allegations or be heard, in violation of the principles of natural justice.

“He has not been informed of the charges against him, no inquiry has been conducted and he has been denied a fair hearing. This alone raises serious questions about the validity of the suspension,” he said.

He also said British parliamentary tradition required that an accused parliamentary official be afforded protection and legal assistance by the “Law Officers of the Crown,” noting that in Sri Lanka this responsibility rested with the Attorney General’s Department.

“As such, Kularatne is entitled to legal assistance from the Attorney General in this matter,” Kiriella said.

The former Chief Opposition Whip warned that the controversy could have wider repercussions, including reputational damage to Sri Lanka’s parliamentary democracy.

“The inexperience and ignorance of parliamentary practice on the part of the government has created this mess. It risks creating the impression internationally that our Parliament does not adhere to democratic principles,” he said.

Kiriella added that those who opposed the move within the SAC should have formally recorded the legal grounds for their objections, rather than merely expressing dissent for the record.

“Now that the process has been set in motion, it is likely to bring ill repute to the country,” he said.

By Saman Indrajith

The Army has vacated the Chulipuram camp in the Jaffna peninsula. Those who were stationed there have been moved to the Chankanai camp.

The withdrawal followed a formal notification process, with a letter informing of the vacation of the camp by the Commanding Officer of the 513th Infantry Brigade to Kavitha Udayakumar, Divisional Secretary of the Sangaanai Division.

In the wake of a deeply disturbing incident involving the circulation of explicit video content allegedly exchanged between adult schoolteachers and a head prefect of a leading school in Colombo and subsequently released onto social media platforms, there is an urgent need for decisive national action to protect children from digital exploitation and abuse, the National Media Foundation said yesterday.

The text of NMF statement: “This incident has exposed serious failures in safeguarding minors in an era of unregulated social media access, weak digital literacy, and the absence of enforceable age-verification mechanisms. While investigations must determine individual culpability, the broader issue is systemic and cannot be ignored.

Children below the age of 16 lack the emotional maturity, judgment, and legal capacity to navigate social media platforms that are increasingly used for exploitation, manipulation, and permanent reputational harm. Once shared online, such content can never be fully erased, condemning victims—especially minors—to lifelong trauma and stigma.

The National Media Foundation (NMF), therefore called upon the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16, with mandatory age-verification systems enforced on all platforms operating in Sri Lanka. Many countries have imposed such regulations, the latest being Australia.

It is also necessary to hold social media companies legally accountable for failing to protect minors and for allowing the rapid spread of harmful and illegal content.

NMF call upon the Government to strengthen laws on cyber exploitation, online grooming, and digital consent, with strict penalties for adults who abuse positions of trust. It is essential to establish clear professional conduct standards and monitoring mechanisms for educators, recognising their special duty of care toward students”.

This is not a debate about censorship or moral policing. It is about child protection, responsibility, and the urgent need to align our laws with digital realities. The safety of children must take precedence over unchecked digital freedoms and corporate indifference.

Sri Lanka cannot afford to react only after irreparable danage has occurred. The time for half-measures is over. Strong preventive action today is the only way to avoid greater tragedies tomorrow.”