House sittings limited to two days this week

By Saman Indrajith

The party leaders yesterday decided to limit Parliament sessions only for two days during the next sitting week. Accordingly, the House will meet today and tomorrow.

Leader of the House and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that a decision had been made in view of the prevailing situation in the country and a final decision on parliamentary sessions in the future would be made in the coming days, considering the pandemic spread.

Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said that it had been decided to continue the business of Parliament while fully adhering with the COVID-19 health regulations.

He said that six orders, under the Special Commodity Levy Act and a resolution under the Customs Ordinance, would be taken up for debate in Parliament today (19) at 10.00 a.m. Accordingly, the time period, from 10.00 am to 11.00 am, had been allotted for Members of Parliament to present Questions for Answers, limited to 10 queries.

Secretary General Dasanayake said that an Adjournment Motion by JVP and NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka was scheduled to be taken up tomorrow (20) from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm.

Whilst Parliament sittings for the day shall proceed without a lunch break, a time period of an hour from 10.00 am to 11.00 am has been allotted for Questions for Answers.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando, Chief Opposition Whip Kiriella, Ministers Chamal Rajapaksa, G. L. Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Douglas Devananda, and MPs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Dilan Perera, Rishad Bathiudeen, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Mano Ganesan M.A. Sumanthiran were present at the meeting.

Parliament sources said that several doctors from the Office of the Director General of Health Services, who recently conducted PCR tests in Parliament, were also called before the meeting for the purpose of consultation regarding the conduct of parliamentary sittings, adhering to all health guidelines.

During the initial discussions held, it was advised that since there was no danger in Parliament, House meetings could be held in strict compliance with all health regulations, the Secretary General of Parliament had opined, sources said.