Government Parliamentary group proposes referring no-confidence motion against Speaker to AG

Sri Lankan media reports say a debate on a no-confidence motion against Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne has been postponed without a date being set. The opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya submitted the motion. Lankadeepa, Ada Derana and Hiru News reported the indefinite postponement.

The Daily Mirror, citing informed sources, reported that the ruling National People’s Power parliamentary group had proposed sending the motion to the Attorney General for consideration and recommendations. The reports provided no details of a decision by the Attorney General.

Lankadeepa had earlier reported that the parliamentary business committee was expected to decide on the date for debating the motion at a meeting on Friday the 16th. Another Lankadeepa report said a committee meeting was scheduled for that day to determine how the motion would be debated. The later reports said the debate was postponed indefinitely.

The Island reported that Minister Bimal Rathnayake had said the government was prepared to debate the motion. It also noted that an opposition motion against a previous Speaker, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, was debated and defeated in 2024. The Island further cited opposition politicians’ social-media claims that seeking the Attorney General’s opinion could be intended to prevent a debate; that was their allegation, not a confirmed explanation.