Ceremonial opening of Parliament Session today (8).

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament is scheduled to be ceremonially declared open by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Wednesday (8).

Following the ceremonial opening of the session President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to present the Statement of Government Policy in Parliament at 10.00 am according to the powers vested in him under Article 33 of the Constitution.

Given the instructions of the President, arrangements have been made to hold the ceremonial opening of the fourth session as a formal ceremony and thus, gun salutes and motorcades shall not be held, Narendra Fernando, Serjeant at Arms, said.

Following the arrival of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and his wife, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will arrive, followed by the arrival of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the first lady.

There the Speaker and the Secretary General of the Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake shall receive the President near the main steps of the Parliament building.

Thereafter the Speaker and the Secretary General of the Parliament led by the Serjeant at Arms, Deputy Serjeant at Arms and Assistant Serjeant at Arms shall escort the President to the Parliament House.

On that occasion, the students of President Girls' College, Kotte will sing Jayamangala Gatha and bless the President and the Parliament.

The President who shall then arrive at the Robing Room will stay there until approximately 9.55 am and according to tradition, the Deputy Serjeant at Arms, the Serjeant at Arms carrying the Mace, the President followed by the Speaker, the Secretary Generals of Parliament and the Assistant Serjeant at Arms shall enter the chamber accordingly.

Upon entering the chamber, the Deputy Serjeant at Arms shall announce "Honorable President" and the members of the ruling party and opposition shall stand and salute keeping in accordance with tradition.

The President who enters the chamber presides over the House and at this time the Speaker sits with the Secretariat in the lower seat as during the Committee Stage.

After the President presents the Statement of Government Policy, the House will be adjourned until 9.30 am on 09.02.2023. Following adjournment, a tea party has been organized for the invited guests including diplomats.

Foreign Diplomats, Former Presidents, Chief Justice, Supreme Court Judges, Attorney General, Secretary of Defense, commanders of the three-armed forces and the Inspector General of Police have been invited for the ceremonial Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament.