COLOMBO : President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will present the new Government’s Policy Statement at a ceremonial sitting of the first session of the ninth Parliament on Thursday afternoon, the same day the newly-elected MPs will be sworn in.
Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake has informed all newly-elected Members of Parliament to attend the first sitting of the House which is scheduled to commence at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.
The SG sent the invitation through a letter addressed to 223 MPs whose names have been gazetted by the Election Commission. The United National Party (UNP) and Our People’s Party (OPP) which won a National List seat each are yet to inform the EC who their nominees are.
The MPs were informed that the appointment of the speaker, the deputy speaker and the deputy chairperson of committees will take place on the first sitting day in keeping with the Standing Orders of Parliament while the MPs were also required to take an oath in the House. Parliament will meet at 9:30 a.m. on 20 August where the new Speaker will be appointed first, following which the MPs will take their oaths before him.
The Speaker will be sworn in by Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake in keeping with the Standing Orders of the House. Sittings will be suspended after this and will resume at 3 p.m. when the President will deliver the Statement of Government’s Policy as provided by Article 33(2) of the Constitution.
It is learnt that Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s name has been confirmed for the post of Speaker by the Government.
The ceremonial sitting at which the President will address the House will be low key with the SG receiving him upon arrival at the Parliament building, followed by the hoisting of the Presidential Flag.
The President will deliver the Policy Statement from the Speaker’s Chair as has been the practice.