{"id":157449,"date":"2026-07-22T15:50:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:50:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=157449"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:50:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:50:51","slug":"summoning-bbc-journalists-before-the-parliamentary-privileges-committee-an-attempt-to-revive-an-obsolete-practice-that-undermines-constitutionally-guaranteed-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2026\/07\/22\/summoning-bbc-journalists-before-the-parliamentary-privileges-committee-an-attempt-to-revive-an-obsolete-practice-that-undermines-constitutionally-guaranteed-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Summoning BBC Journalists Before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee: An Attempt to Revive an Obsolete Practice That Undermines Constitutionally Guaranteed Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE <\/em>Maithri Gunarathna PC Rajith Keerthi Tennkaoon Free Lawyers Organization<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

22 July 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been reported that journalists attached to the BBC Sinhala News Service were to be summoned before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee in relation to their reporting on an incident involving Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero. Although subsequent reports indicated that the summons had been withdrawn, information circulated on social media at approximately 5.36 p.m. on 22 July 2026 suggests that the Parliamentary Privileges Committee intends to proceed with summoning the journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free Lawyers Organization wishes to emphasise that the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus was established to safeguard the rights of women who constitute approximately 52% of Sri Lanka’s population\u2014and to promote their freedom, dignity, and socio-economic advancement. It was not created to curtail the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and other laws of Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Since its establishment, and until very recently, the Women’s Caucus has discharged its responsibilities in a commendable and non-partisan manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free Lawyers Organization also recalls the significant legal concerns that arose following the summoning of the then Editor of Ravaya, Mr. Victor Ivan, before a Parliamentary Select Committee on 24 September 1992.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Those concerns remain equally relevant today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, before any journalist or media institution is summoned before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

the following fundamental questions must be clearly answered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will the proceedings constitute a fair and impartial hearing conducted in accordance with due process?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will formal charges be properly framed and presented by a complainant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will the person summoned have the right to cross-examine the complainant and any witnesses called against them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will the individual have the right to be represented by legal counsel?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there a legally prescribed procedure empowering the Parliamentary Privileges Committee to function as a judicial or quasi-judicial body?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the absence of clear and satisfactory answers to these fundamental questions, the Free Lawyers Organization firmly believes that no journalist or media institution should be compelled to appear before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The principle that “no person should be a judge in his or her own cause” is one of the cornerstones of natural justice. If the Parliament of Sri Lanka, as the legislature of a democratic and civilised nation governed by the rule of law, refrains from reviving such regressive practices, it will earn the respect and confidence of all those who value democracy, justice, and fundamental rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Free Lawyers Organization further welcomes the constructive steps taken by the National Child Protection Authority to conduct a proper investigation into the incident in question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The public’s constitutional right to receive information must not be obstructed or undermined under any circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maithri Gunarathna PC<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rajith Keerthi Tennkaoon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Lawyers Organization<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former Governor of Uva, Southern and Central Provinces Former Executive Director of Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) and Center for Human Rights and Research – CHR Sri Lanka<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PRESS RELEASE Maithri Gunarathna PC Rajith Keerthi Tennkaoon Free Lawyers Organization 22 July 2026 It has been reported that journalists attached to the BBC Sinhala News Service were to be summoned before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee in relation to their reporting on an incident involving Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero. Although subsequent reports indicated that the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[200],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-157449","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-200"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157449","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157449"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157449\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157450,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157449\/revisions\/157450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157449"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157449"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157449"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}