Emergency debate on Monday

by Saman Indrajith

Parliament meets tomorrow (6) to debate the Proclamation of the Emergency regulations by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Leader of the House, Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

Gunawardena said that Parliament will meet only for two days, Monday and Tuesday in accordance with a decision made at the last party leaders’ meeting held on Thursday.

He said that the sessions were originally scheduled to be held on all five weekdays next week with Monday (06) being allocated for the government to respond to long pending and unanswered questions raised by the Opposition.

Although Sept 6 was originally allocated as a special Parliament day to respond to questions earlier, a decision was taken to debate the emergency law imposed to maintain supplies of essential foods because once an emergency law is declared, it has to be approved by the Parliament within 14 days.

President Rajapaksa enacted these emergency regulations for the provision of essential food iin accordance with the powers vested in him under Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance.

Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said that the House will meet against on Tuesday (7) 10.00 a.m. Time has been allotted in taking up Questions for oral Answers from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.

Accordingly, from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. an Order under the Essential Public Services Act No. 61 of 1979, Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka Bill, Finance Bill, Order under Excise (Special Provisions) Act, three Regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act have also been scheduled to be taken up for debate.

Time has also been allotted from 4.30 p.m. to 4.50 p.m. for Questions at Adjournment and the Adjournment Motion by the Government will be from 4.50 p.m. to 5.30 p.m, Dassanayake said.