Tension in House over no-confidence motion against Speaker

Wednesday, 4 November 2026 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Parliament saw tense scenes yesterday after Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih refused to immediately allow several privilege issues to be raised, including the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.

Salih told the House he had received copies of privilege issues submitted by several MPs after 9.00 a.m. He said he could not permit them to be raised until he had examined the submissions.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said the refusal to take up the motion violated parliamentary privileges and democratic principles. The motion contains 50 charges against Speaker Wickramaratne and is signed by 44 Opposition MPs. According to Premadasa, it was handed to the Secretary-General of Parliament on 9 October, 2026 and included in Parliament’s Order Book on 12 October, 2026. It was later rejected following a decision by the Committee on Parliamentary Business, which denied the Opposition an opportunity to debate the allegations.

Premadasa argued that blocking the debate raised serious concerns over the Speaker’s impartiality, the independence of Parliament and the democratic rights of Opposition MPs. He also claimed restrictions were being imposed on freedom of speech, expression and debate in the House. He stressed that the Speaker was constitutionally obligated to act impartially and to give both Government and Opposition MPs fair opportunities to exercise their parliamentary rights. He called for an investigation into whether the refusal constituted a breach of parliamentary privileges.

Opposition MPs continued to object, which led to a tense exchange on the floor. Salih assured the House that the privilege issues would be examined and a response provided during the day. The Opposition kept up its protest, however, as the Government proceeded with scheduled business.