Parliamentary proceedings limited to one day next week

The Committee on Parliament Business which met today at the Parliament Complex decided to limit next week’s sittings of Parliament to one day due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Accordingly, Parliament will convene on 03rd of November from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm only and on that day, two regulations to the Medical Ordinance submitted by the Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi will be taken up for debate.

Also, no time will be allotted for the Questions for Oral Answers, the Parliament’s Department of Communication said.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhane decided to meet on the 12th November 2020 and pass the Appropriation Bill presented by the Minister of Finance for the service expenditure for the financial year 2020 following the 2nd and 3rd reading.

It has been decided not to allow anyone other than Members of Parliament, Invited Officers, Security Personnel and the Parliament staff to enter the Parliament complex on the sitting days. 

The media will also not be allowed to enter the Parliament premises to cover parliamentary sittings, the statement said.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Ministers Prof. G.L Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Mahinda Amaraweera, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prasanna Ranatunga, Ali Sabri and MPs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rauff Hakeem, Dilan Perera, as well as the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake and the Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Neil Iddawela were present at the meeting.