The second session of the ninth Parliament will be ceremonially opened under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Tuesday, January 18.
The President is due to present the Government Policy Statement at 10.00 a.m. in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 33 (2) of the Constitution.
On the directive of the President, the ceremony will be held in a simple manner thus there will be no gun salutes or car parades. Instead, the President will be received with a cultural salute with the participation of the Police Cultural Division.
The arrival of guests will take place at 9.15 a.m. The arrival of the Members of Parliament will take place first, followed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Speaker Abeywardena and Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake will welcome the President at the main steps of the Parliament building. The Speaker and the Secretary General of Parliament will then escort the President into Parliament along with the Serjeant-at-Arms, Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms and Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms.
The students of President’s Girls’ College, Sri Jayewardenepura will recite the Jayamangala Gatha at the main entrance of the Parliament building to welcome the President. The House will adjourn after the presentation of the Government Policy Statement by the President, following which, a tea party will be hosted for the Members of Parliament and guests.
Foreign diplomats, former Presidents, Prime Ministers, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General have also been invited.
The Secretary General of Parliament said the Adjournment debate on the President’s Policy Statement will be held on January 19 and 20.
This was decided on at a meeting the Speaker had with Party Leaders and Members of Parliament at the Parliament complex on Thursday, January 13.
Parliament sittings have been scheduled for January 21 at 10.00 a.m. The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines Bill, Judicature (Amendment) Bill and Civil Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill are due to be taken up for debate.
The Secretary General said that Sri Shakysinharama Viharastha Karyasadhaka Sanvidanaya (Incorporation) Bill is due to be moved following Government Business. Time has been allotted from 4.30 p.m. to 4.50 p.m. for Questions at the Adjournment Time and from 4.50 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. for the Motion at the Adjournment Time.
The President prorogued Parliament in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 70 of the Constitution on December 12, last year, and said that the Second Session of the ninth Parliament will commence on January 18 at 10.00 a.m.
