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.