Speaker urges Commonwealth action on misinformation at New Delhi Parliamentary meet
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s Speaker of Parliament, Jagath Wickramaratne, has called for stronger cooperation among Commonwealth legislatures to counter misinformation and protect democratic institutions, warning that social media poses growing challenges to parliamentary democracy even as it expands public engagement.
Addressing the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, Wickramaratne said digital platforms have transformed the relationship between parliaments and citizens, creating new opportunities for transparency while also amplifying disinformation that can undermine democratic trust.

He outlined steps taken by Sri Lanka to promote responsible digital conduct, including the use of official parliamentary digital platforms, live-streaming of proceedings, and legal and institutional measures aimed at safeguarding democratic processes. He urged Commonwealth parliaments to share best practices and work collectively to strengthen democratic resilience in the digital era.
The CSPOC, held from January 13 to 19, was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 15 and brought together presiding officers from legislatures across the Commonwealth to discuss challenges facing parliamentary governance.
On the sidelines of the conference, Wickramaratne met with Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha Om Birla, as well as the Speakers of the House of Commons of Canada, Francis Scarpaleggia, and the House of Representatives of Australia, Milton Dick, for bilateral discussions.
During his visit to New Delhi, the Sri Lankan Speaker also attended an international exhibition of the Piprahwa relics of the Buddha, ‘The Light and the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One’, and praised the Indian government for facilitating the repatriation of the relics after 127 years.
Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Kushani Rohanadeera, accompanied Wickramaratne at the conference.
-ENCL
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