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New Parliament meets on 21 Nov.
The inaugural session of the 10th Parliament will commence on 21 Nov., at 10:00 am. At 11.30 am. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is scheduled to present the Government Policy Statement.In accordance with Article 33(a) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to present the Government Policy Statement at the commencement of a Parliamentary session. Additionally, as stipulated by Article 33(b) of the Constitution, the President can preside over the ceremonial sittings of Parliament.
Under Article 33(a) of the Constitution, the President is empowered to present the Government’s Policy Statement at the commencement of each new session of Parliament.
Accordingly, at the beginning of every new session of Parliament, it is the President who presents the government’s Policy Statement. Through this address, the President elaborates on the government’s future vision, presenting detailed policy outlines to both Parliament and the public.
The first parliamentary session of the House of Representatives was held on 14 Oct., 1947. It was ceremonially inaugurated by Governor Sir Henry Monck-Mason Moore, who delivered the Throne Speech. The Parliament later took into debate the speech and the address of thanks regarding the speech was passed.
Under Article 70(1) of the Constitution, the President holds the authority to prorogue Parliament. Upon prorogation, all activities in Parliament, except for any pending impeachments, are temporarily suspended. After such a prorogation, the new session is typically ceremonially opened, during which the President presents the government’s Policy Statement. The third session of the second Parliament (House of Representatives) was ceremonially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on April 12, 1954. On this occasion, the Queen delivered the Throne Speech, although no subsequent debate on this address was held.
With the enactment of the 1978 Constitution, the practice of the President delivering the Government’s Policy Statement in place of the Throne Speech commenced at the opening of new parliamentary sessions. In the present context, such a statement is typically not followed by a debate or vote.
The inaugural meeting of the first Parliament under the 1978 Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was ceremonially opened by President J.R. Jayewardene on September 7, 1978, during which he delivered the Government’s Policy Statement to Parliament for the first time.
Latest News
Cabinet approves submission of the orders imposed under the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988 for the concurrence of the Parliament.
The charges to be paid when obtaining a license for import of fertilizer, manufacturing or processing under the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988 has been declared by the orders published in the extraordinary gazette No. 1683/5 dated 06.12.2010.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 05.02.2024 in order to timely amend the declared charges by the said orders. Accordingly, the orders formulated by the Legal Draftsman has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2398/13 dated 20.08.2024.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to submit those order for the concurrence of the Parliament as per the provisions of the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988.
Due to the considerable time spent on following the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act No. 09 of 1950, approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-01-2021 to amend the said Land Acquisition Act appropriate to the current requirement so that the time taken for the process of acquisition of lands can be minimized, lands can be acquired under a simple procedure, and the compensation can be paid under a unified procedure. The initial draft has been prepared for that purpose, and the legal draftsman has informed that the policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers should be taken for the completion of the activities of the preparation of the draft.
Accordingly, taking into consideration the proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to instruct the legal draftsman to prepare the draft promptly.
Since the procedures that should be followed in obtaining and managing foreign debts are covered by the Public Debt Management Act No. 33 of 2024, the Foreign Debt Act No. 29 of 1957 and all the amendments thereto should be cancelled. The policy agreement has been provided at the cabinet meeting held on 09-12-2024 for that purpose. The clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the Foreign Debt (Abolishment) Draft prepared by the draftsman.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to publish the said draft in the Government Gazette and thereafter to present it to the Parliament for approval.
Cabinet approves submission of the orders imposed under the Regularization of Fertilizer Act No. 68 of 1988 for the concurrence of the Parliament.
Cabinet nod to amend Land Acquisition Act No.09 of 1950
Foreign Debt Act No. 29 of 1957 and all amendments thereto to be repealed
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