A Memorandum of Understanding between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) will be signed in the future regarding the progress of the government, SLFP General Secretary, Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.
Minister Dissanayake said that ministers of both parties have agreed to hold discussions to come up with a common program for the two parties to govern together for the remaining 18 months.
This new program will be launched at the new parliamentary sessions scheduled for May 8.
“It will be a comprehensive and strong program acceptable and beneficial to the country,” Minister Dissanayake said adding that the SLFP has appointed a five-member committee headed by Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama to work out the details of the program.
The MoU will be signed soon after the two parties approved the program, he said.
He also said the ministry subjects would be revised in an orderly manner following the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Speaker’s Media Secretary Chaminda Gamage confirmed that the second session of eighth Parliament on May 8 would convene as a ceremonial sitting. President Maithripala Sirisena is expected make a special statement at the new session.
Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff of Parliament Neil Iddawala said the Constitutional Assembly and Steering Committee appointed to deliberate on Constitutional reforms are not affected by the prorogation of Parliament as they were set up by Parliamentary resolutions.
Except for Sectoral Oversight Committees and the High Post Committee all the other Parliament Committees including COPE and COPA stand dissolved following the prorogation of parliament and members and chairmen to those should be reappointed.
All private members’ motions, bills and questions for oral answers have to be re-submitted and bills that were debated but not passed will be debated in the next session.
He said that the seats of the 15 SLFP ministers, deputy and state 15 ministers who resigned will change in the new sessions.
He added that the resignation letter of Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala has not yet been received by the relevant sections.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
Pakistan’s National Defense University Delegation in Sri Lanka
A twenty -one – member delegation from the National Defense University (NDU) of Pakistan, led by Major General Fiaz Hussain Shah is currently visiting Sri Lanka on a foreign study tour from April 15 to 19, 2018, the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo said today
The delegation comprises of senior officers from Pakistan’s Armed Forces, Civil Services and Officers from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China, who are undergoing National Security and War Course at NDU.
The delegation visited the High Commission of Pakistan for an interactive session on 16th April 2018. The High Commissioner of Pakistan, Major General (R) Dr. Shahid Ahmad Hashmat briefed the delegates about the overall bilateral relations between Pakistan-Sri Lanka and the role of the High Commission.
During their foreign study visit, the delegates will be meeting with a number of prominent personalities from Sri Lankan Armed Forces and civil Institutions including Chief of Defense Staff, Commanders of Sri Lankan Army, Air Force and Navy. The delegates will also be visiting Galle and Trincomalee.
The National Defence University is the premier institution of Pakistan, catering for the needs of senior leadership from various segments of the society, both domestic and international, in comprehending security issues and policy/strategy formulation, and act as a national think tank. The NDU is a center of excellence in academic and research pursuits in diversified disciplines providing well thought out inputs on national security at strategic level.
Courtesy: Colombo Gazette
