President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to preside over the ceremonial opening of the Fifth Session of the Ninth Parliament on February 7, 2024. This announcement comes following a meeting of political party leaders, as disclosed by the Legislative Services Department of the Parliament.
Today, February 1, saw a special gathering of party leaders chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to finalize the agenda for the upcoming parliamentary sessions.
The Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament officially concluded with the prorogation of the Sri Lanka Parliament on January 26. President Wickremesinghe exercised his authority, in accordance with Article 70 of the Constitution, to initiate the prorogation through a proclamation published in the government gazette.
Traditionally, the commencement of a new session allows the President to formally open the Parliament and present the government's policy statement, previously known as the Throne Speech when presented by the Governor.
The adjournment debate on the government’s policy statement is slated for February 8 and 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additionally, the Resolution under the Essential Public Services Act is set to be approved without a debate on February 8, preceding the continuation of the adjournment debate.
Upon prorogation, unresolved questions and motions are nullified, requiring Members of Parliament to reintroduce them in accordance with the Standing Orders. Furthermore, all committees, except the Liaison Committee of Parliament, Committee on High Posts, Select Committees, and Sectoral Oversight Committees, are to be reconstituted for the new session.
The previous sessions of the Ninth Parliament convened from August 20, 2020, to December 12, 2021, followed by January 18, 2022, to July 28, 2022, and subsequently from August 3, 2022, to January 27, 2023, totaling 106 days of parliamentary proceedings.
