News
Speaker urged to summon before Privileges Committee those who filed case against ex-Sports Minister
By Saman Indrajith
Chief Opposition Whip and SJB Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella called on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to summon before the Privileges Committee those who had filed a case against former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe on what he had stated in Parliament.
Kiriella said that the Speaker had powers under the Parliament Powers and Privileges Act to ensure that MPs could not be sued for their remarks in Parliament.Kiriella said that a case had been filed against MP Roshan Ranasinghe over what the latter stated to the House. That was against the law, Kiriella said.
Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa said as per Sections 3 and 4 of the Parliamentary Privileges Act an MP could not be sued or arrested for remarks made in Parliament. “The Speaker is bound by the duty to protect the MPs powers and privileges. How could a case be filed on what an MP says in parliament,
Premadasa demanded to know from the Speaker.Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that no one could file legal action against an MP for the remarks he makes in Parliament.
He said so in response to a query by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa in Parliament.
“It is clear that no one can sue an MP for comments he makes in the House,” the Speaker said.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted their concurrence to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs to appoint S. Achchudan of Special Grade of Sri Lanka Administrative Service, who is currently serving as an Additional Commissioner of Elections at the Elections Commission who is
recommended by the panel of interviewers to the post of Director General of the Sports Development Department with effect form 01.01.2026.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the draft bill of the National Environment (Amended) Act in the government gazette notification and subsequently to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Buddhism, Religious, and Cultural Affairs to provide tax relief on imported dates received as donations or gift for Ramadan.
This year’s Ramadan fasting season is scheduled to begin on 19-02-2026 and end on 21-03-2026.
Shafali, Renuka close in on top five in ICC T20I rankings
S. Achchudan appointed as Director General of the Sports Development Department.
Amendment of the National Environment Act No. 47 of 1980
Tax relief for Dates received as donations or gifts for Ramadan
Cabinet nod to establish the Sri Lanka Industrial Transformation and innovation Authority
Temporary employment of Sri Lankan labour in the State of Israel
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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