The New People’s Front (NPF) over the week lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), that Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne was using three state-owned vehicles and two official residences beyond his official entitlement.
NPF leader Sugeeswara Bandara has alleged in his complaint that the Speaker and his personal staff are misusing public funds.
Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne’s Office yesterday (06) said that the Speaker was entitled for 900 litres of petrol a month. Members of the Cabinet-of-Ministers, too, receive 900 litres of fuel, the Speaker’s Office said.
A senior spokesman for the Speaker’s Office said so when The Island sought Dr. Wickremaratne’s response to the NPF’s allegation.
The Secretary General’s Office emphasised that Dr. Wickremaratne, in his capacity as the Chairman of the House Committee, on 02 May, 2025, decided to limit the Speaker’s fuel allocation to 900 litres. Earlier, there hadn’t been any restrictions on the Speaker at all, the Secretary General’s Office said.
According to the statement, the Speaker used two vehicles, bearing CAN 8753 and CBI 5198, whereas the Speaker’s media unit has been assigned NC 4923.
The Speaker’s personal staff consisted of eight persons. Of them, the Speaker’s Private Secretary, Coordinating Secretary, Media Secretary and Public Relations Officer were entitled to official vehicles and fuel allowances in terms of the respective government circulars, the Secretary General’s Office said.
The Secretary General’s Office also stressed that the Speaker refrained from using the Speaker’s official residence while all official level meetings were held in Parliament.
According to the statement, the Speaker resided at Lauries Road, Colombo 4, and the house rent was paid by him, in terms of the Public Administration circular 22/2006 dated 2007.04. 20.
New People’s Front leader Sugeeswara Bandara reiterated that his party stood by the complaint lodged with the CIABOC.
The Speaker’s Office said that legal action was being contemplated in this regard.