Speaker Rejects Sajith Premadasa’s Privilege Motion

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Speaker has rejected requests made by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and four other Members of Parliament seeking to raise questions of parliamentary privilege.

The decision was reached following a review conducted under the Standing Orders of Parliament and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act No. 21 of 1953 in relation to requests submitted by the MPs on November 3.

The ruling was announced to Parliament by the Deputy Speaker.

In addition to the Opposition Leader, MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara, Mano Ganesan, Mujibur Rahman and Chanuka Madugoda had submitted letters to the Speaker alleging a breach of parliamentary privileges, protesting the decision not to allow a no-confidence motion against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to be taken up for debate.

The Speaker has determined that the issuing of notices on the Order Paper under the Standing Orders and the scheduling of parliamentary business by the Committee on Parliamentary Business are procedural matters and therefore cannot be considered breaches of parliamentary privilege under Standing Order 118.

The ruling further states that, in line with the Speaker’s determination issued on October 6, 2026, and established parliamentary conventions, administrative decisions relating to the conduct of parliamentary business and the allocation of time cannot be challenged through questions of privilege.

The Speaker has also noted that the deadline granted for the amendment and resubmission of the no-confidence motion had already elapsed.