Chamindra Kularatne, the suspended Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and Chief of Staff, has told the Opposition that he will seek the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Association of Secretaries General of Parliament (ASGP) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Kularatne has also declared his intention to move the Court of Appeal against the suspension that came into effect on 23 January on the basis of an inquiry conducted by retired Additional Secretary S.K. Liyanage.

The inquiry found fault with Kularatne for receiving a pension for a three-year and seven-month period he served as the Secretary to the Chief Government Whip during the previous administration. However, political sources said that though that particular appointment had been on a contract basis, in terms of a gazette issued at that time, it was made pensionable. Therefore, there couldn’t have been any issue with regard to Kularatne receiving a pension as stipulated in the gazette, sources said. The Island learns that Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry advised that the Cabinet of Ministers be consulted regarding the matter but the Parliament acted even without bothering to seek Kularatne’s explanation.

The Staff Advisory Committee (SAC), chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, has initiated the inquiry, though such an action should have been the prerogative of the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, sources familiar with the developments relating to the unprecedented case, said. The SAC has also disregarded stipulation that in case of an inquiry against the Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, it should have been conducted by an officer senior to him.

The SAC consists of the Speaker, Chief Government Whip Bimal Rathnayake, Deputy Finance Minister Prof. Anil Jayantha (he represents President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who also holds the Finance portfolio) and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa/Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleke. Sources said that the SAC had been deeply divided over the decision, with SJB Karunatilleke expressing opposition to the course of action proposed by the Speaker, while Prof. Jayantha didn’t extend his support. Before Kularatne had been informed of the SAC decision on 23 January, he wasn’t given an opportunity to respond to whatever allegations directed at him, sources said.

Kularatne’s complaint to IPU would be the second against Speaker Dr. Wickremaratne since his appointment as the Speaker on 17 December, 2024. The first complaint has been lodged by Jaffna District independent group member Ramanathan Archuna. Parliament accepted the NPP’s proposal to appoint the Polonnaruwa District lawmaker after their first choice Asoka Ranwala resigned after being exposed for false claims of his higher educational qualifications.

Sources said that the ruling party had targeted Kularatne because an influential section, within the government, believed that he had sneaked on the Speaker. Kularatne’s sacking and related accusations and counter accusations dominated social media.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and ITAK Batticaloa District lawmaker Shanakiyan Rasamanickam threw their weight behind Kularatne with Premadasa questioning the legality of the action taken without seeking an explanation from the official.

Authoritative sources said that in terms of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, in addition to members of Parliament, officials, too, received protection.

During the United National Front government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the then Speaker, the late W.J. M. Lokubandara, interdicted Director General (Administration) Lacille de Silva over alleged misconduct though the official claimed he was punished for leaking information. Lacille de Silva successfully moved court against his interdiction and secured his position.

By Shamindra Ferdinando