Serjeant-at Arms Mr. Narendra Fernando said that the largest number of school students in the history of the Parliament visited the Parliament on 1st December 2022.
Accordingly, permission has been given to over 5000 students from 32 schools representing different areas of the island to visit the Parliament, he added.
He further added that in comparison with world parliaments, this number of students visiting the parliament in one day could be a record.
More than 25,000 students representing schools located in different parts of the island have visited to observe the Parliamentary debates after the Public Gallery which was closed due to the Covid epidemic was reopened for school students from 19th September 2022.
He also mentions that necessary steps are being taken to provide a free glass of milk to the school students who visit the Parliament from January 2023.
He added that this is a commendableact conducted according to a decision taken by the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by the Hon. Speaker and with the blessings of all the party leaders including the Hon. Leader of the House, Hon. Chief Government Whip and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition.
The Serjeant-at Arms said that it should be specially highlighted that the President Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, has decided to provide the necessary financial support for this purpose from the Treasury without any hesitation.
