The ninth parliamentary term spanned 4 years, 1 month, and 4 days, beginning with the inaugural session on August 20, 2020, until its dissolution. During this period, the Parliament convened for 390 days across five sessions. Significant events during the ninth parliamentary term included constitutional amendments, the election of a successor president through a Parliamentary vote, the submission of no-confidence motion, the removal of a commission chairman/member through a resolution, and the suspension of the service of Parliamentarians due to disciplinary actions.
Accordingly, with the commencement of the ninth Parliament in 2020, the then Minister of Justice, Hon. M.U.M. Ali Sabry, presented the "Twentieth Constitutional Amendment" Bill to Parliament on September 22, 2020, aiming to amend the Constitution.
On October 21 and 22, following the debate pertaining to the second reading, the Bill was passed with a special majority. During the voting, 156 votes were cast in favor, and 65 votes were cast against the Bill. After the Committee Stage, the Bill's third reading was also passed by a special majority, with 156 votes in favor and 65 votes against. The Bill, with amendments, was subsequently approved. On October 29, 2020, following the Speaker's assent, the Twentieth Constitutional Amendment was officially enacted.
In 2022, following the resignation of President Hon. Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to the prevailing crisis, the Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe, who was appointed as the eighth Executive President, formed a new cabinet. As part of this cabinet, the Hon. (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, PC, Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, introduced the "Twenty-Second Constitutional Amendment" Bill to Parliament on August 10, 2022, to amend the Constitution.
Subsequently, during the debate pertaining to the second reading held on October 20 and 21, the Bill received 179 votes in favor and 1 vote against. During the Committee Stage, amendments were incorporated into the Bill in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. During the vote for the third, 174 votes were cast in favor, and 1 vote against. Accordingly, the Bill was passed as the "Twenty-First Constitutional Amendment". On October 31, 2022, following the Speaker's assent and, the Twenty-First Constitutional Amendment was officially enacted.
No-confidence motion against the Hon. Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Power
The no-confidence motion against the Hon. Udaya Gammanpila, Minister of Power, is considered the first no-confidence motion presented in the Ninth Parliament. It was submitted by 43 members of the opposition, including the Opposition Leader, Hon. Sajith Premadasa. The debate on this motion took place on July 19 and 20, 2021. During the subsequent vote, the motion received 61 votes in favor and 152 votes against, resulting in its defeat.
Resolution for the Removal of J.D.B.M.J.P.K. Ratnayake from Office
The resolution for the removal of J.D.B.M.J.P.K. Ratnayake from membership of the Sri Lanka Public Utilities Commission, as per the provisions of the Sri Lanka Public Utilities Commission Act No. 35 of 2002, was presented by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister and Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs. The debate on this resolution took place on May 24, 2023, during which the motion received 123 votes in favor and 77 votes against, resulting in the resolution being passed with a majority of 46 votes.
No-confidence motion against Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health.
The no-confidence motion against the Hon. Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health, was presented by 45 members of the opposition, including the Opposition Leader, Hon. Sajith Premadasa. The debate on this motion took place for three days, on September 6, 7, and 8, 2023. Following the debate, during the subsequent vote, 113 votes were cast against the motion, while 73 votes were in favor. As a result, the motion was defeated by a majority of 40 votes.
No-confidence motion against the Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker
On March 19, 2024, the Opposition Leader, the Hon. Sajith Premadasa, along with 45 members representing the main opposition, presented a no-confidence motion against Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, the Speaker of the Parliament. The debate on this motion took place on March 19, 20, and 21. At the conclusion of the debate, during the subsequent vote, 117 votes were cast against the motion, while only 75 votes were in favor. As a result, the no-confidence motion was defeated in Parliament by a majority of 42 votes. Following this, the Speaker made a special statement.
Amid the political crisis in the country, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned from the presidency on July 14, 2022. Consequently, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, a Member of Parliament was elected to fill the vacant position. Until the said, Hon Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister at the time, served as the acting President.
In this context, in terms of the Presidential Elections (Special Provisions) Act No. 2 of 1981, Parliament convened on July 19 to conduct the election. During this session, Hon Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister and acting President and Members of Parliament Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma, Hon. Anura Dissanayaka were nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Accordingly, for the first time in Parliamentary history, a vote was held in Parliament to elect a President on July 20, 2022. During this voting, the Hon Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the eighth Executive President of the country by a majority. In this secret ballot held, Hon Ranil Wickremesinghe received 134 votes, while Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma received 82 votes and Hon. Anura Dissanayaka received 3 votes.
On August 23, 2023, due to a contentious situation arising from raising supplementary questions related to questions for oral answers in Parliament, Members of Parliament, Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara, caused clamour. Given the situation, Deputy Speaker Hon. Ajith Rajapakse temporarily suspended the parliamentary session for 10 minutes. Thereafter, the Speaker, Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, who took the chair suspended Hon. Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and Hon. Wasantha Yapabandara from the proceedings of that day.
Furthermore, on October 19, 2023, in light of a chaotic situation that arose during the questions for oral answers in Parliament, the Speaker, the Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, announced that the service term of Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, would be suspended for four weeks with effect from that day. This action was taken as touching the mace while placed in the bracket of the chamber is considered a serious disciplinary violation under Standing Order 77(3).
Meanwhile, on October 20, 2023, due to an incident reported to have occurred between Members of Parliament, Hon. Diana Gamage, Hon. K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera, and Hon. Rohana Bandara, their service term was suspended for one month, effective from December 2, 2023 by way of a motion moved in Parliament.
This motion was presented to Parliament on December 2, 2023, based on the recommendations made to Parliament after considering the matter by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. During the voting, 57 votes were cast in favor of the proposal, while 1 vote was against it. Additionally, 3 members were recorded as abstaining from voting on the motion.
Additionally, on May 23, 2023, Member of Parliament Hon. Ali Sabri Raheem was involved in an incident related to the smuggling gold and mobile phones worth more than 70 million rupees into the country through the VIP terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake. Based on the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, his parliamentary service was suspended for a month. The suspension was implemented through a motion in Parliament, citing his misconduct, which was deemed to violate the privileges of Parliament and Members of Parliament, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 118, effective from March 6, 2024, for a duration of one month.
2026-09-01
Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of Parliament of Sri Lanka accompanied by Hon. (Dr.) Janaka Senarathna, Member of Parliament, successfully participated in the 2nd Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC-2) held from 26 to 28, August 2026, at the GDT Convention Centre in Phnom Penh, The Kingdom of Cambodia. Hosted jointly by the Senate and the National Assembly of Cambodia, the prestigious global forum brought together legislative leaders, heads of international organizations, and Parliamentary delegations from Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania, and Latin America. The conference convened under the theme, “Solidarity for Peace and Shared Prosperity: Strengthening International Law and Resolving Conflicts Peacefully”. The official proceedings commenced following a royal audience with His Majesty King Preah Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace, alongside courtesy call with the President of the Senate and Chairman of the ISC-2, Hon. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen. The Programme also included a courtesy call with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Hon. Samdech Mohaborvor Thipadei Hun Manet. Addressing the high-level General Debate, Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker championed Parliamentary diplomacy as a critical, resilient complement to traditional statecraft. He emphasized that legislative bodies must act as guardians of democracy and rule of law, keeping communication channels open to build trust even during times of severe political friction. The Speaker firmly asserted that true, lasting peace cannot exist merely as the absence of war; rather, it demands a foundation built on justice, mutual respect, and inclusive development that leaves no citizen behind. Highlighting Sri Lanka's strategic maritime location, the Hon. Speaker reiterated the nation’s historic foreign policy rooted in non-alignment, friendship, and peaceful coexistence. He stressed that borderless modern crises including climate change, cybercrime, and food insecurity cannot be tackled by any nation in isolation, demanding unified regional and international solidarity. Concluding his remarks, Hon. (Dr.) Wickramaratne pledged Sri Lanka’s unwavering support for the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, framing the achievement of these global goals as the ultimate vehicle for achieving widespread social justice and shared economic prosperity. During his stay in Cambodia, Hon. (Dr.) Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, held a bilateral meeting with Hon. Milton Dick, Speaker of the Parliament of Australia. The two Speakers discussed matters of mutual interest and explored avenues for further strengthening Parliamentary cooperation and the longstanding relations between Sri Lanka and Australia. They also exchanged views on enhancing collaboration between the two Parliaments through greater engagement and the sharing of Parliamentary experiences and best practices. Hon. Speaker Wickramaratne also met with Rt. Hon. Narayan Prasad Dahal, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the longstanding and cordial relations between Sri Lanka and Nepal, with particular emphasis on further strengthening bilateral Parliamentary relations. They also exchanged views on enhancing cooperation between the two legislatures and promoting greater interaction and collaboration in areas of mutual interest. The conference concluded with the formal adoption of the landmark Phnom Penh Declaration, cementing a unified legislative framework to peacefully resolve international differences. Closing remarks were delivered by the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, Hon. Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary.
2026-08-28
Parliament is scheduled to meet from September 8 to 11. The parliamentary business for the week was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held recently (Aug. 20), chaired by the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.Accordingly, on Tuesday, September 8, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for parliamentary business specified under Standing Order 22(1) to (6). The period from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while the period from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).Thereafter, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the House is scheduled to debate, for approval, two Orders published in Extraordinary Gazettes Nos. 2489/22 and 2493/19, issued under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203).This will be followed by a period from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. allocated for the debate on the Motion at the Adjournment Time to be moved by the Opposition.On Wednesday, September 9, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for parliamentary business specified under Standing Order 22(1) to (6). The period from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions to be asked from the Prime Minister, while the period from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers. Thereafter, from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., the time has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).From 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the House is scheduled to hold the Second Reading debate on the Chief of Defence Staff (Repeal) Bill.Thereafter, the period from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. has been allocated for Questions at the Adjournment Time.On Thursday, September 10, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for parliamentary business specified under Standing Order 22(1) to (6). The period from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while the period from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).Thereafter, from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the House is scheduled to debate, for approval, a Resolution under the Women’s Empowerment Act.Subsequently, from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., the Motion at the Adjournment Time to be moved by the Government will be taken up for debate.On Friday, September 11, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. has been allocated for parliamentary business specified under Standing Order 22(1) to (6). The period from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, while the period from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. has been allocated for Questions under Standing Order 27(2).The period from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. has been allocated for the following Private Members’ Motions.Name of the Member of ParliamentTitle of the Private Member MotionHon. Nalin Bandara JayamahaBringing Industries related to Petroleum, Fuel and Water under the regulation of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri LankaHon. Ajith P. PereraProviding an incentive to family units to increase the number of births in Sri LankaHon. (Dr.) Harsha de SilvaProtection of the Diyagama ForestHon. Sujeewa DissanayakeAbolishing the additional six percent pension deduction from the salaries of Pirivena TeachersHon. Nanda BandaraFood crop cultivation in mountainous areasHon. T.K. JayasundaraDeveloping the Kithul IndustryHon. (Dr.) M. L. A. M. HizbullahEstablishment of a Faculty of Medicine for South Eastern University of Sri LankaThereafter, the period from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. has been allocated for Questions at the Adjournment Time.
2026-08-28
A 25-member delegation of parliamentary officials from Sri Lanka, representing all nine departments in the Parliament of Sri Lanka, is participating in Capacity Building Programme at the Lok Sabha Secretariat in New Delhi.This Capacity-Building Programme was initiated through the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka at the request of Ms. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Subsequently, under the direction of Shri Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, arranged and facilitated the programme. As a result of this collaboration, 50 parliamentary officials from the Parliament of Sri Lanka were given the opportunity to participate in the programme.The first batch of 25 Sri Lankan parliamentary officials participated in the programme in India last month. The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Hansa Abeyrathne, Assistant Secretary-General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Following this, the second batch of 25 Sri Lankan parliamentary officials, led by Ms. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, is currently in the programme in New Delhi.Both programmes were conducted by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, with the objective of strengthening the professional knowledge, skills and institutional capacities of parliamentary officials.The visiting officials were warmly received by senior officials of the Lok Sabha Secretariat upon their arrival at the VIP terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.As part of their visit, the Sri Lankan parliamentary officials paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament House Complex before the commencement of their programme.The capacity-building sessions cover a wide range of subjects related to parliamentary administration and functioning. These include international parliamentary relations and protocol, executive accountability to Parliament and the role and functions of parliamentary committees, the organisational structure of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, and the functioning of its Administration Branch.The programme also provides participants with an opportunity to learn about the functioning and management of committee secretariats and branches, parliamentary privileges and ethics, and services provided to Members of Parliament, including members’ services, allowances and welfare.Other key areas covered include preparation of the Secretariat’s budget, the functions of the Integrated Finance Unit (IFU) and Budget and Budgetary (B&B) branches, and the role and powers of presiding officers in legislatures.The delegation visited the Parliament House to observe the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Chambers and the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Visit to the Parliament Library Building are also included in the programme, provided the officials with an opportunity to familiarise themselves with India’s parliamentary infrastructure and support services.In addition to the academic and institutional sessions, the programme also included a cultural visit to Agra. The programme forms part of ongoing parliamentary cooperation and capacity-building initiatives between India and Sri Lanka, providing officials from the two institutions with opportunities to exchange experiences and gain a deeper understanding of parliamentary procedures, administration and democratic institutions.Senior officials of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, led by Ms. Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera, Secretary-General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, met with Shri Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, in New Delhi and engaged in a cordial and fruitful discussion. During the meeting, Ms. Rohanadeera expressed her sincere appreciation to Shri Utpal Kumar Singh for arranging and facilitating the Capacity-Building Programme for Sri Lankan parliamentary officials and for the support extended towards its successful implementation.In addition, the Secretary-General and a group of officials representing the Department of Communications of the Parliament of Sri Lanka also observed the operations of “Sansad TV,” the official television channel of the Indian legislature.The continuation of the programme through successive batches highlights the growing institutional engagement between the Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Lok Sabha Secretariat and contributes to the sharing of parliamentary expertise and best practices between the two countries.
2026-08-21
The Supplementary Estimate to provide Rs. 7500 million required by the Government to purchase paddy from the 2026 Yala season was approved by Parliament today (Aug. 21). The debate on the Supplementary Estimate was held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.The Supplementary Estimate was presented to allocate Rs. 7500 million from the funds allocated for projects/programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation for 2026, which are expected to remain unutilized during the year, for the purchase of paddy.
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