Concerns have been raised in Parliament over the legality of the recent appointments to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), with opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekara alleging that certain members of the Constitutional Council manipulated information to influence the selection process.

Speaking in Parliament, Jayasekara accused Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne and Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake of misleading civil society member Dinesha Samararatne to secure her vote for Ranga Dissanayake, who was appointed as the Director General of CIABOC.

“Ms. Samararatne has officially lodged a protest through an affidavit and an email to the Constitutional Council, claiming she was misled,” Jayasekara said.

He further stated that the vote had been divided among members of the Council, with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, MP Ajith P. Perera, Dr. Pratap Ramanujan, and Dr. Dilukshi Wijesundara voting for Metsiri Madhawa Tennakoon, while Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Bimal Rathnayake, MPs Aboobucker Athambawa, and Sivagnanam supported Ranga Dissanayake.

According to Jayasekara, Ms. Samararatne was persuaded to vote for Dissanayake based on assurances from Rathnayake, who reportedly told her that two other CIABOC nominees—former Governors Wasantha Wimalasiri Ginadasa and Champa Janaki Rajaratne—were not political appointees. She was also reportedly assured that the marking system used in the selection process was fair.

“These appointments are a violation of parliamentary privilege, as the legislature is ultimately accountable for what appears to be an unlawful procedure,” Jayasekara argued.

Responding briefly, Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne said he would issue an official statement on the matter in Parliament at a later date.