Mr. Speaker - The Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne

¶ 01 The Parliament met at 9.30 a.m.

¶ 02 Announcements

¶ 03 Speaker's Certificate

¶ 04 In terms of Article 79 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, I wish to inform the House that on 23rd July 2025 I have endorsed the Speaker’s Certificate on the following Bills: - Employees’ Budgetary Relief Allowance (Amendment), - Employees’ Budgetary Relief Allowances (Amendment), and - National Minimum Wage of Employees (Amendment).

¶ 05 National Audit (Amendment) Bill: Petition to the Supreme Court

¶ 06 In terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution, I wish to inform the House that a copy of a petition submitted to the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “National Audit (Amendment)” has been received by me.

¶ 07 Future Steps to be Taken on 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

¶ 08 With regard to the report tabled on 22nd July 2025 by the Committee of Inquiry appointed under Section 5 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002 to investigate the alleged misconduct and/or gross abuse of powers by Mr. T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon as the IGP, I wish to explain the future steps to be taken.

¶ 09 Accordingly, the soft copy of the said Report tabled on 22nd July 2025 has been uploaded, in English, to the official website of Parliament on the same day.

¶ 10 Further, in terms of the permission granted by this House on 22nd July 2025, the Report will be printed and distributed for the use of Hon. Members of this House.

¶ 11 In terms of the Report, Mr. T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon has been found guilty. Therefore, in terms of Section 17 of the Removal of Officers (Procedure) Act, No. 5 of 2002, a resolution for his removal from office will be included in the Order Book of Parliament thereafter.

¶ 12 In terms of Standing Order 27, after five clear days from the inclusion in the Order Book, the said Resolution will be included in the Order Paper and may be taken up for debate on a date to be determined by the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

¶ 13 If a majority of the whole number of Members (including those not present) vote in favour of the Resolution, the Hon. President will be informed for the immediate removal from office in terms of Section 18 of the said Act.

¶ 14 Permission is granted to print the Report in all three languages.

¶ 15 Papers Presented