A major administrative confrontation has erupted in Parliament, centred on suspended Deputy Secretary-General and Chief of Staff Chaminda Kularatne, whose allegations against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne have triggered a fresh wave of scrutiny into the use of parliamentary resources.
Just 24 hours after Kularatne lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) on Monday (2), the Speaker’s office dispatched a formal request for 15 categories of “certified information” to the Secretary-General of Parliament. The letter, signed by the Speaker’s Private Secretary, was sent on Tuesday (3), The Daily Morning learns.
Copy of the complaint(in Sinhala)Copy of the Complaint by Kularathna
The document seeks a comprehensive breakdown of vehicle allocations, fuel usage, allowances, and spending within various parliamentary units. It includes queries about:
- The number of vehicles assigned to the Speaker and their authorised fuel quotas
- The basis on which fuel allocations were determined
- The date on which the state van (WP NC 4923) was allocated to the Speaker’s media unit, and details of its fuel consumption across multiple Parliaments
- Fuel provided to the van during the current (10th) Parliament
- The legal framework for the Speaker receiving fuel allowances both as Speaker and as an MP
- Allowances provided to Speakers of the Eighth and Ninth Parliaments
- Procurement timelines of media equipment used by the Speaker’s media unit
- Staffing and equipment details of that unit in previous Parliaments
- Approval processes and spending related to the investigating officer handling the preliminary inquiry into Kularatne
- Allowances provided to past investigating officers in similar inquiries
- Decisions by the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee regarding converting the Speaker’s residence into a Centre for Parliamentary Studies
- Financial details related to the Speaker’s state residence, including utility payments
- Meal deductions from the Speaker’s salary and from that of the Speaker’s Private Secretary, and whether additional meals have been taken beyond authorised allocations
Kularatne, suspended on 23 January 2026, has asserted that the disciplinary action taken against him is driven by “personal animosity” rather than any professional failing.
In his CIABOC complaint, he cites an incident in the Speaker’s lunch room on 18 June 2025 as the true origin of the tensions. Kularatne further alleges that the Speaker used three vehicles despite being entitled to only two, with the aforementioned van allegedly used for personal purposes over a six‑month period.
Additional claims include:
- The Speaker drawing fuel allocations for a Polonnaruwa District MP—approximately 568 litres—on top of his Speaker’s allowance, allegedly causing a loss of Rs. 2 million
- Unauthorised use of Parliament’s high-value media equipment for personal promotion
- Meal cost discrepancies, with staff allegedly paying Rs. 150 for meals priced at Rs. 900
Despite these allegations, Government sources maintain that Kularatne’s suspension is justified. According to official statements, the inquiry found that he had misrepresented his qualifications to obtain his position and had unlawfully claimed salary entitlements.
When contacted by The Daily Morning, Kularatne declined to be quoted, while the Speaker’s office stated that neither the Media Secretary nor the Private Secretary was available for comment. Parliamentary Secretary-General Kushani Rohanadheera had not responded at the time of publication regarding receipt of the Speaker’s letter.
( Source -The Morning)