The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member, for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Before my privilege matter, allow me a minute to correct a statement I made yesterday. If my remark “close your mouth” made while raising questions yesterday caused any disrespect to the Speaker’s Chair or role, I withdraw it. That remark arose in response to a question about my background, and I reacted. However, I withdraw it now.

¶ 03 Privilege under Section 4 of Part A of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act.

¶ 04 While I was raising a supplementary question on reopening the road in front of the Sri Dalada Maligawa in connection with the terrorist attack on the Temple of the Tooth, the Hon. Leader of the House made a statement alleging that about 140 sets of human remains were reportedly found in mass graves in Matale, and stated that the daughters of those murderers are here, that some present are private torture chamber owners, and asked whether it was unusual that certain UNP ministers/MPs in 1987–1989 had private torture chambers.

¶ 05 Among MPs representing Matale, I am the only female MP here now, with only one other Opposition MP, Hon. Chamindrani Kiriella. Thus, the statement directly targeted me. I consider it a political statement inciting hostility against me. My father never killed anyone; he saved lives. The whole of Matale, Laggala and the country know this. Moreover, the person named on my birth certificate as my father is indeed my biological father. If necessary, we can have a DNA test with the Leader of the House who made the allegation. Such statements endanger my personal security and curtail my public duties as an MP. I have already notified the IGP and lodged a complaint at the Matale Police. No action has been taken so far, and such statements by a responsible state official further endanger my security.

¶ 06 I urge that the statement made on 23.07.2025 by the Leader of the House constitutes a breach of my privilege and be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. I also request that he withdraw the remark and that it be expunged from the Hansard, and that a formal investigation be conducted into the alleged mass graves to bring those responsible before the law. Further, I request a Special Committee under Standing Order 91(c) to inquire into this incident.