President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will present the Government’s Policy Statement at the ceremonial sitting during the first session of the 10th Parliament on November 21 at 3.00 p.m.
The President is empowered to present the Government’s Policy Statement at the commencement of each new session of Parliament under Article 33(a) of the Constitution. According to Article 33(b) of the Constitution, the President is also vested with the power to preside over the ceremonial sittings of Parliament.
At the beginning of every new session of Parliament, the President presents the Government’s Policy Statement. The President elaborates on the Government’s future vision, presenting detailed policy outlines to Parliament and the public through this address.
The inaugural meeting of the first Parliament under the 1978 Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was ceremonially opened by President J.R. Jayewardene on September 7, 1978, where he delivered the Government’s Policy Statement to Parliament for the first time.
With the enactment of the 1978 Constitution, the practice of the President delivering the Government’s Policy Statement in place of the Throne Speech commenced at the opening of new parliamentary sessions. In the present context, such a statement is typically not followed by a debate or vote.
The inaugural meeting of the new Parliament will be held on November 21 at 10.00 am, with the participation of Members of Parliament elected to represent the 10th Parliament based on the results of the November 14 general election. This time, the new Parliament will be convened with many new faces.
On the first day, the proceedings of the House will begin under the patronage of the Secretary General of Parliament and after placing the mace in the House, the special Gazette announcement issued by the President setting the date and time of the Parliament meeting will be presented to the House by the Secretary General Secretary as the first task of the day.
In accordance with the provisions of Article 64 (1) of the Constitution and the provisions of Parliamentary Standing Orders 4, 5 and 6, the Speaker should be elected by vote and later the Speaker and Members of Parliament should take their oaths. Thereafter, the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees should be elected by vote.
