COLOMBO: The ceremonial opening of the third session of the Ninth Parliament is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3.
According to the Department of Communication of the parliament, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given directives to commence the new parliamentary session without a guard of honour salutes and ceremonial horses. Meanwhile, the presidential flag will not be hoisted at the event.
The second session of the Ninth Parliament was prorogued through an Extraordinary Gazette notification issued by the President on July 28, 2022, in accordance with the powers vested in him with Article 70 (1) of the Constitution.
When the Parliament is prorogued, the questions and motions, which were not considered by the parliament up until then, are abolished and the Members of Parliament thus have to take it up in accordance with the standing orders.
Furthermore, the committees other than the Liaison Committee of Parliament, Committee on High Posts and Select Committees will be reconstituted following the beginning of the new session.
The second session of the Ninth Parliament was from January 18, 2022 to July 28, 2022 under which the Parliament met for 48 days.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake has called on all MPs in writing to attend the third session of the Ninth Parliament.
Upon entering the Chamber, President Wickremesinghe will preside over the ceremonial sitting of the new parliamentary session.
Thereafter, the General-Secretary of Parliament will read out the proclamation proroguing the parliament and summoning the meeting of the House.
Subsequently, President Wickremesinghe is slated to deliver the government’s policy statement.
As per the Order Paper of the House, the parliament will be adjourned until 1.00 p.m. on August 09.
