The Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, this is a question of privilege raised under Standing Orders 29(1) and (2).

¶ 02 To select the current Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the Constitutional Council published advertisements on 2024.10.13 and 2024.10.14. Thereafter, from among the applicants, three names—Deputy Solicitor General Madhava Tennekoon of the Attorney General’s Department, Supreme Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake, and Iresha Subhashini Siriwardena—were selected to be sent to the President. When considering recommendations given to the candidates, the Constitutional Council discussed at length the recommendations of the Governors of the North Central Province, former Supreme Court Judge Wasantha Wimalasiri Jinadasa, and the Sabaragamuwa Province, former Supreme Court Judge Champa Janaki Rajaratne.

¶ 03 Given that CIABOC is an independent institution, and the office of Governor is a political appointment, the Council discussed that such recommendations could amount to political interference. Notably, the appointments of these Governors were published in the Gazette on 2024.09.27. It is recorded that the recommendations in favour of Hon. Ranga Dissanayake were conveyed through the official letters of those Governors. Therefore, the Council discussed the propriety of recommendations originating from persons holding political appointments.

¶ 04 The Council first discussed this on 2025 January 03 and decided to forward the names of Mr. Madhava Tennekoon, Mr. Ranga Dissanayake, and Ms. Iresha Subhashini Siriwardena to the President. Subsequently, on 2025 January 07, when the Council met again, you stated—