During the weekend of the sacred Vesak festival, which commemorates the three auspicious events in the life of Lord Buddha, the Parliament of Sri Lanka was transformed into a beautiful setting adorned with the splendour of Vesak.
The Parliament premises were beautifully decorated with colourful Vesak lanterns, illuminated lights, Buddhist flags and various other Vesak decorations. These decorations created a serene and visually appealing atmosphere, providing spiritual comfort and tranquillity to all who visited or witnessed the surroundings.
The decorations also helped convey the true meaning of Vesak by reminding society of the core values of Buddhism, including loving-kindness, compassion, peaceful coexistence and moral integrity. At night, the glittering lanterns and illuminated displays added a unique charm and beauty to the Parliament complex.
Reflecting the universal message of Buddhism that transcends race, religion and culture, the Vesak decorations highlighted the importance of building a society that values peace, coexistence and humanity.
In parallel with these celebrations, a special ceremony was held around the sacred Bo tree planted within the Parliamentary premises, which originated from a sapling of the sacred Sri Maha Bodhi. Oil lamps were lit around the Bo tree as part of the observances. Through these religious rituals, homage was paid to the teachings of the Buddha, while prayers were offered for peace, prosperity, and well-being for the nation and its people.
Parliament, resplendent with the vitality of the Vesak festival, became another striking symbol of Sri Lanka’s proud Buddhist culture and rich spiritual heritage, demonstrating the importance of these enduring traditions to the nation and its people.
2026-06-11
The Sri Lankan Parliamentary delegation, which participated in the Workshop for Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka in the People’s Republic of China, returned to Sri Lanka on 05th June 2026 upon the successful completion of its official programme.The delegation, led by Hon. (Dr.) (Ms.) Kaushalya Ariyarathna, M.P., Deputy Minister of Mass Media, participated in the programme conducted by the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China from 26th May to 04th June 2026.During the course of the visit, the delegation participated in sessions conducted by senior Chinese academics, researchers, and officials on China’s governance framework, development strategy, democratic consultation mechanisms, and national policy direction.The delegation also undertook official visits to key national institutions, including the National People’s Congress (NPC) Conference Hall and the Great Hall of the People. In addition, it attended a reception hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing on 29th May 2026 to mark International Tea Day, highlighting Sri Lanka’s rich tea heritage and its contribution to cultural and economic ties.The programme continued in Shenzhen and later in Guangzhou, where the delegation visited institutions and development projects in the fields of smart infrastructure, advanced technology, communications, agriculture, and new energy industries.The Workshop provided a valuable platform for enhancing parliamentary diplomacy, institutional exchange, and knowledge-sharing between Sri Lanka and the People’s Republic of China, further strengthening the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries.
2026-06-10
A programme to brief Hon. Members of Parliament on Sri Lanka’s current monetary policy, exchange rate policy and the country’s economic situation was held in Parliament today (10th June).The programme was conducted under the patronage of Hon. Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. Resource persons included the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, together with a group of senior officials from the Central Bank.During the session, Members of Parliament were briefed on the current monetary policy in the country, the behavior of the exchange rate, economic stability and matters relating to the economic progress of Sri Lanka. Central Bank officials also responded to questions and comments raised by Members, providing clarifications and explanations.The event was attended by the Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Hon. Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Hon. Members of Parliament and the Secretary General of Parliament (Ms.) Kushani Rohanadeera and several other officials.
2026-06-09
The Determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the Bill titled “Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment)” which was challenged in the Supreme Court under Article 121(1) of the Constitution, was announced to Parliament today (Jun. 09) by the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.Accordingly, the Supreme Court has determined that the Bill may be passed by the simple majority of Parliament, except Clause 14 [proposed Section 12A(b)] and Clause 18 [proposed Sections 17A, 17B and 17C] which Clauses shall be passed by the special majority of Parliament. Furthermore, the Speaker informed Parliament that the Supreme Court has further determined that the said Clauses too can be passed by the simple majority of Parliament if they are amended as proposed by the Court.The Hon. Speaker also ordered that the Determination of the Supreme Court be printed in the official report of today's proceedings.
2026-06-08
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of Parliamentary Interpreters (API) was held recently at Committee Room No. 02 of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.During the meeting, the following office bearers were elected to serve the Association for the year 2026: Mr. B.M. Razeel as President, Mr. M.I.M. Fazi as Vice President, Mr. M.T. Zainur Rifa as Treasurer, Mr. C. Manimaran as Secretary, and Miss D. Thulankani as Assistant Secretary. The Executive Committee comprises Mr. M. Mayureshan and Mrs. A.A.S. Safaya.Following the election, the newly elected office bearers posed for a group photograph with the Chief Parliamentary Interpreter, Mr. C.J. Karunarathna, Attorney-at-Law, and the Deputy Chief Parliamentary Interpreters, Mr. A.G.M. Fiqrhi, Mr. A. Saravanabavanandan and Mrs. N.B.C.J. Nissanga.
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