Speaker receives letter from Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe on Official Secrets Act

Colombo (News 1st): President's Counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has addressed a letter to the Speaker citing the limitations on revealing matters on national security. The Speaker's office confirmed that it is studying the contents of the letter. In the letter, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says as per the provisions of the Official Secrets Act Number 32 of 1955 releasing secret information or documents to another party is a punishable offence. A person with no legal right to obtain such information, possessing the information is a punishable act. PC Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe further stated that any individual shall be liable to 14 years of imprisonment, for a term not exceeding two years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand rupees. The letter sent to the speaker has warned about the appointment of a parliamentary select committee which reveals such information. In the letter, the President's Counsel also pointed out that the exposure of intelligence puts the citizens and the country at risk.