The Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake has announced that the first sitting of the 9th Parliament for the year 2021 will convene from the 5th of January to the 8th of January, as decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on 30th of December, 2020.
The Committee on Parliamentary Business which was chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of Committees Angajan Ramanathan also decided to permit media to enter the Parliament premises for the purpose of covering Parliamentary proceedings. Accordingly, journalists will be allowed to enter the Parliament premises subjected to the guidelines set out in accordance with the COVID-19 health regulations.
Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Johnston Fernando, Ministers Dullas Alahapperuma, Douglas Devananda, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Ali Sabry PC, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella and MPs Rauff Hakeem, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Dilan Perera, Mano Ganesan were present at this meeting.
Accordingly, Parliament will convene from Tuesday, January 5th to Thursday, January 7th from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Parliament will convene on Friday, the 9th of January from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Government will be taken up on the 5th and the 7th January respectively and will be held from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
The Motion at the Adjournment Time by the Opposition to be taken up on the 6th January will be held at 4.30 whilst the Adjournment Debate by the Opposition on the current situation of the country is scheduled to be held from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on the 8th of January. Time has been allotted from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. on the same day for Questions for Oral Answers presented by the MPs.
Four Bills including Amendments to the Shop and Office Employees Act will be taken up on the 5th of January and 03 Bills including the Amendment to the Minimum Wages Act are scheduled to be debated in Parliament on the 6th.
In addition, the Secretary General stated that the second reading of the Intellectual Property (Amendment) Bill is scheduled for the 07th of January and 10 regulations including airport taxes will also be taken up for debate.
Adding to it, the Secretary General stated that, time has been allotted for Prime Ministers questions on Wednesday, the 06 of January from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
