Parliament to debate Government’s policy statement next week

Parliament has decided to debate the Government’s policy statement, which presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, next week.

The decision was taken by party leaders at a meeting chaired by Speaker Dr. Asoka Ranwala.

Secretary-General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, said that Parliament will convene from December 3^rd to 6^th as decided during the party leaders meeting.

Accordingly, on Tuesday, 3^rd of December, the Motion on the policy statement of the Government presented recently in Parliament by the President will be debated from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

It was further agreed that the debate will continue on 4^th of December, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a division on the Motion scheduled for at 5.00 p.m.

It has also been decided at this meeting to hold the debate on the Resolution on the Vote on Account with regard to the first four months of 2025 on 5^th and 6^th of December from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Furthermore, discussions were held on the allocation of debate time between the Government and the Opposition, the composition of Government and Opposition representatives in committees, the establishment of the Committee of Selection and the submission of relevant nominations, the formation of the Committee on Parliamentary Business and other committees, the functioning of Sectoral Oversight Committees, and the consideration of a request to establish a Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus within the Tenth Parliament.

Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih, Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekaraa, Leader of the House and Minister Bimal Rathnayake, Chief Government Whip and Minister (Dr.) Nalinda Jayathissa, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, and other party leaders participated in this meeting. (Colombo Gazette)