PARLIAMENT

Inaugural meeting of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka commenced today at 9.30 a.m.

The Secretary-General of Parliament read the Proclamations issued by His Excellency the President summoning the Meeting and proceeded immediately to the election of a Speaker.

Election of Speaker

The Hon. Karu Jayasuriya, M.P. was proposed and seconded for the office of the Speaker of the 8th new Parliament by the Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, M.P. and the Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, M.P. respectively. Thereupon, the Hon. Karu Jayasuriya who was elected as the new Speaker had been escorted to the Chair by the proposer and the seconder. The Hon. Speaker before he took the Chair, thanked the House in brief. Then the Hon. Speaker took the Chair and made his affirmation required by law and signed the Members’ Roll at the Table.

Subsequently, all the Hon. Members present made their affirmation or took their oath and signed the Members’ Roll at the Table.

Congratulatory speeches were made by the Leaders of various political parties of both the Government and the Opposition. The Hon. Speaker made the reply speech.

Election of Deputy Speaker

The Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala, M.P. was proposed and seconded for the office of the Deputy Speaker of the 8th new Parliament by the Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, M.P. and the Hon. Rauf Hakeem, M.P. respectively.

Election of Deputy Chairman of Committees

The Hon. Selvam Adaikkalanathan, M.P. was proposed and seconded for the office of the Deputy Chairman of Committees of the 8th new Parliament by the Hon. M.A. Sumanthiran, M.P. and the Hon. Laxman Kiriella, M.P. respectively.

Announcements by the Speaker

The Hon. Laxman Kiriella, M.P. and Hon. Gayantha Karunatileka, M.P. were appointed as the Leader of the House of Parliament and the Chief Government Whip respectively of the new Parliament.

The Hon. Speaker suspended the Sittings until 3.00 p.m.

Presentation of the Statement of Government Policy

House resumed at 3.00 p.m. and His Excellency Maithripala Sirisena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presented the Statement of Government Policy.

The Hon. Leader of the House of Parliament moved the Adjournment Motion to effect that the Parliament shall Sit at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, September 03, 2015.


Accordingly the Parliament was, thereafter adjourned at 1537 Hrs. until 0930 Hrs. on Thursday 3rd September 2015.


[ Statement of Government Policy ]

*  This is an unedited version. For the official record of this day's proceedings, please refer the Hansard.