• Harshana Rajakaruna claims link to suspended Kularatne’s appointment process 
• Notes that appointing JVP loyalists to key positions would undermine democracy 

Opposition SJB Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna yesterday (17) claimed that there is an ongoing attempt to remove Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadheera, alleging that the same was part of a plan to take control of key democratic institutions.

Speaking in Parliament, he said that in the wake of the recent suspension of the Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of Parliament, Chaminda Kularatne, information has come to light suggesting a “conspiracy” to also remove the Secretary General. Referring to an allegation that the appointment of Kularatne as the Deputy Secretary General had been made in violation of accepted procedures and that making the appointment permanent had caused losses to the Government, he claimed that on the basis of those claims, there were preparations to temporarily remove Rohanadheera from her current position and to initiate disciplinary action against her. 

“What is the Government trying to do? They have already interfered with independent institutions, including the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Department and the Auditor General’s Department. Are they now attempting to exert influence over the Parliament itself? They removed the Deputy Secretary General and now they are trying to remove the Secretary General as well. By what authority are they doing this?” he questioned.

Rajakaruna further charged that the ruling Party, referring to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), was seeking to place its loyalists in key positions across democratic institutions. He warned that such actions would undermine democracy and insisted that Parliament must be protected from political interference. “You cannot run the country according to the needs of Pelawatta (a reference to the JVP Headquarters). You have no right to act according to partisan needs. Democracy must be protected.”

He added that his Party would not allow attempts to politicise the Parliament and other independent institutions.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary sources told The Daily Morning yesterday that media reports suggesting there were preparations to remove Rohanadheera from her position were based on the preliminary report of the one-member committee that looked into allegations against Kularatne. The sources stated that the preliminary findings contain both primary observations and secondary recommendations, and the latter had been known only to the Speaker of Parliament and the inquiry officer. They questioned how details of those recommendations had entered the public domain.