The inaugural session of Sri Lanka's 10th Parliament took place this morning (21), beginning with the swearing-in of the newly elected Members of Parliament.
The MPs took their oaths before the newly elected Speaker, Asoka Sapumal Ranwala, in the parliamentary chambers. The session, which commenced at 10:00 a.m.
Saith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) being appointed as the Leader of the Opposition.
During the session, General Secretary of Parliament Kushani Rohanadheera read the gazette notification issued by the President regarding the convening of the new Parliament. Gampaha District MP from the National People’s Power (NPP), Asoka Ranwala, was unanimously elected as the Speaker, and the National People’s Power (NPP) Colombo District Member of Parliament, Dr. Rizvie Salih, has been unanimously elected as the new Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Meanwhile, NPP MP Hemali Weerasekera was appointed as the Deputy Chairperson of Committees.
A distinctive feature of today’s session is that Members of Parliament will have the freedom to it anywhere they choose, as no seating arrangements have been pre-assigned.
After these initial formalities, the Parliament temporarily suspended proceedings till 11:30 a.m. President Dissanayake will take the Speaker's Chair to present the Government's Policy Statement, in line with the Constitution.
