Thu, 28 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane elected Speaker

20 August 2020 09:55 am - 3     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Matara district MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka today.

The ruling SLPP and the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) acted in unison in this regard.

His name was proposed by Leader of the House and Minister Dinesh Gunawardene and seconded by SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

They both ushered Mr. Abeywardene into the Chair in keeping with parliamentary traditions. He is the 12th Speaker of Sri Lanka. He was first elected to Parliament after winning the by-election for the Hakmana electorate in the Matara district representing the United National Party (UNP).

In 1987, he quit Parliament protesting the Indo-Lanka accord. Later, he started doing politics with the Democratic United National Front founded by the then Minister the late Lalith Athulathmudali. He was elected to the Southern Provincial Council in 1993 representing that party and became its chairman.

He became the chief minister after Amarasiri Dodangoda who held the position was elected to Parliament at the 1994 general election. He contested the 2001 general elections and served as an opposition MP till 2004.

After the 2004 General elections, he became the deputy minister of Healthcare and later the Cabinet Minister for Cultural Affairs & National Heritage. After 2010, he was also appointed Agriculture Minister.

In the last Parliament, he was one of the 52 members who pledged support to present Prime Mahinda Rajapaksa and sat in the opposition under the banner of the Joint Opposition.

“I hope to make the role of Parliament more productive, strong and to strive towards maintaining its independence. I expect the support of all MPs in this regard and to make the committees in the House more effective and efficient. I need your participation and support in achieving these goals and state that this cooperation of yours in this regard is essential and will contribute to make this assembly more useful and productive,” Mr. Abeywardene said after being appointed to the Speaker’s post .

“Thank you for placing trust in me and the responsibility vested in me. I assure you that I will do my utmost to fulfil this responsibility. I wish to turn this House into one which will be responsible to the people. I ask for your active support to perform this task,” he added.

“It is a privilege to be appointed as the Speaker of this House at a time when the country is striving to revive the economy and bring in development in an era where the COVID-19 Pandemic is being controlled. We are living at a time of political transformation. Let all the MPs strive towards maintaining the county’s identity through the unity which this House exhibits through its diversity,” he also said. (Yohan Perera)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 3

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • ANTON Thursday, 20 August 2020 10:53 AM

    IS THIS A SRILANKAN PARLIAMENT SESSION OR A SOUTH INDIAN CONFERENCE ?

    Alex Thursday, 20 August 2020 12:38 PM

    Hope he will be impartial not like previous regime's speaker

    Sokrates Thursday, 20 August 2020 12:53 PM

    Again an old man of over 70 years. This kind of people will stick to their chairs till they die.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H