Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ajith P. Perera has accused the government of improperly removing a no-confidence motion against the Speaker of Parliament from the official Order Paper.
He raised the allegation in parliament during an adjournment debate on the country's export economy.
Perera said that a panel presided over by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne voted to pull the censure motion on 23 October without seeking advice from the Attorney General.
He said the motion was originally submitted on 9 October and formally entered into the parliamentary schedule on 12 October, after which the Committee on Parliamentary Business agreed on 16 October to consult the state's chief legal officer.
He emphasised that established parliamentary tradition required the Deputy Speaker to preside whenever a Speaker faced a motion of no confidence.
He detailed that the submission contained 50 distinct allegations, comprising 17 charges concerning the misuse of public funds, 20 counts relating to interference in bribery investigations and conflicts of interest, and 13 allegations regarding the erosion of democracy and parliamentary impartiality.
Perera stressed that opposition members retain a clear right to present their arguments on these matters on the floor of the House.
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