PARLIAMENT

The party leaders who met today (20) under the chairmanship of the new Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena decided to hold sittings of Parliament tomorrow (21) and on the 27th and 28th respectively.

Accordingly, the Government Policy Statement presented by HE the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in Parliament today (20) will be taken up for debate tomorrow (21) as a matter of priority for the Government.

Meanwhile, A Vote on Account will be presented by the government to bear the expenses for the period from September 01st until the relevant budget for the year 2020 is passed. The party leaders came into agreement to have the Members of Parliament informed regarding the Vote on Account through the Order Book in accordance with section 27 of the Standing Orders.

Thereafter, the party leaders decided to convene Parliament on the 27th and 28th from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm continuing without suspending the Parliament for lunch.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sajith Premadasa will make a special statement in Parliament regarding unemployed graduates tomorrow (21) in accordance with Standing Order 27 (2).

Leader of the House Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip Hon. Johnston Fernando, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Sajith Premadasa, Members of Parliament Lakshman Kiriella, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Hon. Udaya Gammanpila, Hon. Tissa Vitarana, Hon. Rauff Hakeem, Hon. Gayantha Karunathilaka, Hon. Mano Ganesan, Hon. Douglas Devananda, Hon. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Hon. M. A. Sumanthiran and Hon. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam were present at this meeting.