The Hon. Jagath Vithana

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Section 8 of Part A of the Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, I raise a breach of privilege.

¶ 02 I am an elected representative for Kalutara District, and a people’s representative recognized across the country. At a moment when the National People’s Power secured many local bodies, I was able to secure power in the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha for the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. In a statement on 26.07.2025, the Government Chief Organizer Hon. Nalinda Jayatissa cruelly attempted to claim that I possessed illegal weapons. He stated:

¶ 03 “No one is arrested just by looking at faces. After proper investigations, they are arrested. I saw Jagath Vithana saying his son was arrested due to losing control of the Matugama Pradeshiya Sabha. I want to tell Jagath Vithana...” [continues] “…Investigations are ongoing into the illegal weapons they possess; this will be reported to court. Then they can prove their innocence in court.”

¶ 04 By such statements I have been subjected to public disrepute and a conspiracy against me is evident. This obstructs my service to the people as an MP and is a breach of my privilege.

¶ 05 A case was filed alleging my son had illegally assembled vehicles and he was produced before the Matugama Magistrate’s Court; it is pending and no charges have been filed against me or my family; no court has convicted us. Yet Minister Jayatissa made unlawful, baseless, defamatory media statements and even commented on prospective court outcomes, violating the sub judice principle.