President declares open 2nd Session of 9th Parliament

COLOMBO (News 1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ceremonially declared open the 2nd Session of the 9th Parliament on Tuesday (18).

The President will present the Government Policy Statement in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 33 (2) of the Constitution.

On the instructions of the President, arrangements were made to hold the ceremony in a very simple manner thus that there were no gun salutes or car parades.

Instead, the President was received in front of Parliament with a cultural salute with the participation of the Police Cultural Division.

Following the presentation of the Government Policy Statement by the President, the House will be adjourned. Afterward, a tea party is organized for the members of Parliament and invited guests.

Foreign diplomats, former Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chief Justice, Supreme Court Justices, and the Attorney General were invited to the ceremonial opening of the second session of the Ninth Parliament, Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.

The Adjournment debate on the Statement of Government Policy scheduled presented by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, will be held on January 19th and 20th.

Accordingly, the Adjournment debate by the Government will be held on January 19th from 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. and January 20th from 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa prorogued the Parliament in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 70 of the Constitution with effect from midnight on the 12th of December 2021 and has announced that the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament will commence on the 18th of January at 10.00 am.

According to Article 33 of the Constitution, the President has the opportunity to ceremonially open the Parliament and preside over the presentation of the Policy Statement of the Government at the commencement of a new session.

When Parliament concludes its session, issues and the motions which have not been duly considered by Parliament will be suspended and MPs should again act in accordance with the Standing Orders. Further, all Committees other than the Committee on High Posts of Parliament and the Select Committees should be re-appointed at the new session.