Parliament meets after President's resignation

COLOMBO (News 1st); Parliament is scheduled to convene today (16) at 10.00 AM to officially announce the President's resignation.

Vacancy in the office of President to be announced to Parliament today (16).

As previously decided, nominations will be called on the 19th, and the President will be elected on the 20th - Speaker informs at the party leaders' meeting held today.

According to the Constitution and Section 4 of the Election of the President (Special Provisions) Act No. 2 of 1981, the Parliament is scheduled to meet today (16) Saturday at 10.00 am, the Secretary General of the Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake informs all Members of Parliament.

According to Section 4 of the Presidential Elections (Special Provisions) Act No. 2 of 1981, the Parliament should be convened within three days after the vacancy occurs.

Thus, the Secretary-General is scheduled to announce today (16) that there is a vacancy in the office of the President according to Section 5 of the said Act.

Meanwhile, at the Party Leaders and the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held today at 10.00 am, the Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed that the new President will be elected by the Parliament on the 20th as previously decided by the party leaders.

Accordingly, the speaker said that the nominations will be called on the 19th Tuesday and subsequently, a member of parliament will be elected for the presidency after the election held in the Parliament on the 20th Wednesday.

The speaker further said that he expects the support of all parties to carry out this process quickly without any hindrance within the democratic framework.