Party leaders’ meeting held yesterday gave approval for simultaneous sign language interpretation during the 2022 Budget debate in consideration of the Hearing-Impaired Community, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.

Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena proposal was approved by the party leaders.

It has also been decided to convene Parliament at 10.00 am on Tuesday Nov 09 and continue until 5.30 pm. The Adjournment Debate by the Government on the three Reports presented to the Parliament by the Committee on public Accounts on 20th July, 6th and 7th October, 2021 is scheduled for the date.

It was decided to set aside the entire day on Nov 08 for Questions by MPs. Time has been allocated from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm on the said date for 50 questions which were earlier postponed due to the pandemic situation.

Accordingly, Parliament is scheduled to convene on Nov 08, 09, 10, and 11.

The second reading of the Appropriation Bill 2022 (Budget Speech) will be presented by Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa on Nov 12 at 2.00 pm. Thereafter, the Budget Debate will be held every day including Saturdays, except Sundays and public holidays, until Dec 10.

On Wednesday Nov 10 from 10.00 am to 10.30 am time has been allotted for Prime Minister’s Questions and from 10.30 am to 11.00 am time has been allotted for Questions for oral answers.

Thereafter, from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill to amend the Appropriation Act, No. 7 of 2020 applicable for the financial year 2021, Regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and the Immigrants and Emigrants (Amendment) Bill have been scheduled to be passed in Parliament post-debate.

Time has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers on Nov 11 from 10.00 – 11.00 am. Thereafter, from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, Minimum Retirement Age of Workers Bill, Order under the Employment of Women, Young persons and Children Act, Regulations under the Land Acquisition Act have been scheduled to be taken up on the said date.

On Nov 10 and 11 time has been allotted for Questions at the Adjournment Time from 4.30 pm to 4.50 pm and time from 4.50 pm to 5.30 pm has been allotted for Motion at the Adjournment Time. (SI)