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Maximum penalty for breach of privilege, announced

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Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana announced to the House today (09) that where a charge-sheet issued by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges of Parliament against a Member of Parliament contains more than one charge for two or more separate offences, and the said Member of Parliament is found guilty of more than one of the charges set out in the charge-sheet, the opinion of the Attorney General was sought regarding the maximum punishment that can be imposed in terms of Section 28 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 which was amended time to time.

Accordingly, the Attorney General has elucidated his opinion in that regard  to the effect that it is punishable as per the provisions of Sections 5 and 16(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979 subject to Article 66 (e) of the Constitution in consideration of the Articles 66 (e) and 67  of the Constitution, Sections 22 (3), 27 (1) and 32 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 which was amended time to time and Standing Orders 77 (1), 77 (2) and 77 (3) of the Parliament and Sections 5 and 16 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No. 15 of 1979.

Accordingly, it observed that the service of Parliament of a Member of Parliament can be suspended for a period exceeding one month under section 28 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act subject to a maximum of three months under Article 66 (e) of the Constitution where a member has been convicted of two or more separate offences in the charge-sheet for a single incident, the Speaker said.

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CoI on Deshabandu concludes examining evidence by both parties

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The examination of evidence by both the Respondent and the Prosecution before the Committee of Inquiry concluded.

The Committee recommends that both parties submit their written submissions to the Committee of Inquiry before 3:30 p.m. on the 8th of July.

Examining evidence before the Committee of Inquiry to inquire and report its findings on IGP T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon in respect of acts of gross abuse of power, concluded yesterday (July 01), with the presentation of evidence by both the Respondent, representing Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon and the Prosecution.

The Committee of Inquiry, chaired by Supreme Court Judge P.P. Surasena and comprising Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman, National Police Commission, convened today, during which, testimonies were obtained from two additional witnesses by the Prosecution.

These two witnesses had been overseas on official duty. Thus, in accordance with the prior agreement between the two parties, reached to obtain the evidence post June 26, held before the Committee of Inquiry with the participation of Additional Solicitor General (President’s Counsel) Dileepa Peiris and 

Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department, and R.S. Weerawickrama Attorney-at-Law, appearing on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, it was decided to record the statements of these two witnesses today.Furthermore, both the Prosecution in representation of the Attorney General’s Department and the Respondent Inspector General of Police agreed to submit their respective written submissions to the Committee of Inquiry before 3:30 p.m. on July 08, 2025.

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Govt to present 2026 Appropriation Bill in October

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Cabinet approval has been granted to a proposal presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance , Planning and Economic Development to present the Appropriation Bill for the year 2026 to Parliament in October 2025.

Approval has also been granted to present the Budget speech in November 2025 and to hold the third reading and budget debate during November and December.

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This week’s Cabinet decisions

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A number of decisions have been taken at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday (July 01).

The decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers are as follows :

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