The Hon. (Mrs.) Hiruni Wijesinghe, Attorney‑at‑Law

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I raise the following matter of breach of privilege.

¶ 02 On 10 November 2025, while Hon. Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe was speaking on the Budget, I was seated to his left. When he referred to persons who had written books on the bond scam, Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe, apparently thinking it referred to his work “Truth and Lies of the Central Bank Bond Issue,” began to shout. After you, Mr. Speaker, warned that if he did not behave he would be removed, he obtained a point of order and, instead of replying to the Minister, pointed at me—who had no relevance to the debate—and said, “The lady Member next to you should not sit there; she should take the country away,” a disparaging remark.

¶ 03 At that moment, a large number of schoolchildren and other visitors were present in the Galleries. The proceedings were live on PEO TV and later circulated on social media. I was subjected to severe discomfort by being suddenly targeted without any intervention by me in the debate. I strongly condemn this attempt to deflect from the Minister’s remarks based on Hon. Senasinghe’s past conduct and to cover up your warning by diverting the topic to me.

¶ 04 We entered this Tenth Parliament to mark a turning point in women’s political representation, to change outdated political cultures. I fully understand insinuations and crude remarks when I hear them. Persistent physical, psychological and verbal violence targeting women Members inside and outside Parliament will not be ignored by me or by any woman Member of the National People’s Power; we will always stand up against such violence.

¶ 05 Therefore, I state that I was subjected to verbal harassment by the insulting remark made by Hon. Sujeewa Senasinghe, demand that he apologize, and request that this letter be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges under Standing Order 118.

¶ 06 Thank you.