Sri Lanka's opposition parliamentary group will convene today (10) to map out its strategy against the government's continued refusal to schedule a debate on a no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleka said the high-level meeting will address both the stalling of the motion and the Speaker's decision to block related parliamentary privilege questions.
The dispute arises from a resolution submitted on 9 October by 44 lawmakers across major opposition parties, alleging that Speaker Wickramaratne violated the Constitution, the Anti-Corruption Act, the Right to Information Act, and parliamentary Standing Orders.
Opposition lawmakers say that suppressing the motion and silencing privilege queries strikes at the heart of democratic traditions and legislative protocol.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih announced on 6 November that five privilege requests, including one by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, were dismissed because scheduling decisions and Order Book procedures do not constitute a prima facie breach of privilege.
Parliamentary authorities added that the opposition failed to submit an amended motion within the designated timeframe after contentious elements were flagged for removal.
Despite government pushback, opposition leadership maintains it will not alter or withdraw the motion, offering only to remove the honorific title from the text if requested.
