Mr. Speaker [The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne]

¶ 01 Announcements

¶ 02 Awareness Programme for Newly Elected Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Staff in collaboration with the UK House of Commons, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy has been arranged from 22nd to 24th July, 2025 at the Parliamentary Complex. All Members of Parliament are kindly requested to be present.

¶ 03 Meeting of Committee on Parliamentary Business

¶ 04 I wish to announce that a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business is scheduled to be held today, Tuesday, 22nd July, 2025, at 1.15 p.m. in Committee Room No. 2. All Hon. Members are requested to attend.

¶ 05 I wish to announce that this House cordially welcomes the Delegation from the House of Commons of the UK Parliament led by Yasmin Qureshi, MP, Chair of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, now present at the Speaker’s Gallery.

¶ 06 The Final Report of the Committee of Inquiry appointed in terms of Section 06 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002 to investigate and inquire into the alleged grounds on which the removal of Mr. T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon from the office of the IGP has been sought

¶ 07 Today, I wish to bring to the attention of this august Assembly a matter of profound constitutional and institutional significance.

¶ 08 As you are aware, under the provisions of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, a Committee of Inquiry was appointed to investigate and report on the grounds for the removal of the current Inspector General of Police (IGP).

¶ 09 I have now received the formal findings of the Committee, duly constituted in accordance with the Act.

¶ 10 In this connection, I wish to place on record our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the distinguished Members of the Committee for their diligence, integrity, and commitment to the rule of law: - Hon. Justice Padman Surasena, Judge of the Supreme Court — Chairman - Hon. Justice Neil Iddawala, Judge of the Court of Appeal — Member - Mr. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman, National Police Commission — Member

¶ 11 This Committee, having conducted its inquiries, has unanimously found the officer in question guilty of the allegations brought against him, in accordance with Section 8(2) of the Act.

¶ 12 This marks a historic moment in our constitutional journey, the first time in the history of the Republic of Sri Lanka that such a Committee has submitted its findings, recommending the removal of an Inspector General of Police under the provisions of the law enacted by Parliament.

¶ 13 As mandated under Section 17 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, I am obliged and hereby undertake to place the finding of guilt in the form of a Resolution in the Order Paper of Parliament for the consideration and vote of this House.

¶ 14 Further, for the information of the Hon. Members and in the interest of transparency and public accountability, I have directed the Secretary-General of Parliament to table the Committee’s Report as a Parliamentary Paper, and arrangements will be made for Members to receive copies in the Official Languages in due course. I also intend to authorize its release to the general public, mindful of the public interest and the fundamental importance of upholding the trust reposed in institutions.

¶ 15 This Parliament, representing the sovereign will of the people, now bears the solemn responsibility of considering the Resolution to give effect to the Committee’s findings. The House shall be notified in due course of the scheduled date for debate and vote.

¶ 16 Let me reiterate that in executing this duty, we uphold the values of constitutional governance, institutional accountability and the supremacy of the law, the principles that are foundational to a functioning democracy.

¶ 17 I urge the Hon. Members to approach the forthcoming proceedings with the dignity, objectivity and responsibility they demand.

¶ 18 Accordingly, I table the Report of the said Committee of Inquiry only in the English language with special leave of the House and a soft copy of the Report in the English language will be uploaded to the Parliament website for easy reference.

¶ 19 Thank you.

¶ 20 Auditor-General’s Report

¶ 21 In terms of Article 154(6) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I present the following: - Part II, Chapter 127(11) of the Auditor-General’s Report for the financial year 2020; - Part II, Chapter LXI of the Auditor-General’s Report for the financial year 2021; - Part III, Chapter XIX and Part IX, Chapter 210(11) of the Auditor-General’s Report for the financial year 2023; and - Part II, Chapter II of the Auditor-General’s Report for the financial year 2024.