PARLIAMENT

• A charm ceremony excluding gun salutes and motorcade not held

The Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament was ceremonially declared open today (Feb. 08) by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President.

Following the ceremonial opening of the session, the President Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe presented the Statement of Government Policy in Parliament at 10.00 am according to the powers vested in him under Article 33 of the Constitution.

Given the instructions of the President, arrangements were made to hold the ceremonial opening of the fourth session as a formal and charm ceremony.

Following the arrival of the Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and his wife, the Prime Minister Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena arrived in Parliament. Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President arrived in Parliament thereafter.

There the Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and the Secretary General of the Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake received the President Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe near the main steps of the Parliament building.

Followed by the said, the Speaker and the Secretary General of the Parliament led by the Serjeant at Arms, Deputy Serjeant at Arms and Assistant Serjeant at Arms escorted the President to the Parliament House.

On that occasion, the students of President Girls' College, Nawala sang Jayamangala Gatha and blessed the President and the Parliament.

The President was then escorted to the Robbin Room who stayed there until approximately 9.55 am was then escorted to the chamber by the the Deputy Serjeant at Arms, the Serjeant at Arms carrying the Mace, the President followed by the Speaker, the Secretary Generals of Parliament and the Assistant Serjeant at Arms accordingly.

The President then presented the Statement of Government Policy. Thereafter, the House was adjourned until 9.30 am on 09.02.2023.

Following adjournment, a tea party has been organized for the invited guests including diplomats.

[Policy Statement of the Government]