15 August 2020 12:00 am
By Lahiru Pothmulla
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will present the new government’s Policy Statement at the ceremonial sitting during the first session of the Ninth Parliament on August 20, the Department of Communication of Parliament yesterday said.
It said President Rajapaksa is scheduled to chair the inaugural meeting at 3.00 pm and the statement of the new Government’s policy as provided by Article 33(2) of the Constitution will be read by the President.
Upon the arrival of President Rajapaksa, he will be received by the Speaker of Parliament and the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake at the main staircase of the Parliament building, followed by the hoisting of the Presidential flag.
“The President will be accompanied to the House of Parliament by the Serjeant-at-Arms, Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms, Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms followed by the Speaker of Parliament and the Secretary General of Parliament where he will present the new Government Policy Statement,” it said.
The ninth Parliament will convene at 9.30 am starting with electing the Speaker of Parliament followed by the members taking oaths. Thereafter, the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees will be elected respectively.