New parliament gets off to a smooth start

By Saman Indrajith

The Ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka got off to a smooth start yesterday with the election of a new Speaker and the swearing in of newly elected Members of Parliament followed by the election of a Deputy Speaker and a Deputy Chairman of Committees.

All three appointments were made unanimously. Matara district SLPP MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s name proposed for the post of Speaker by Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and seconded by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SBJ) MP Ranjith Maddumabandara.

Yapa was escorted to the Speaker’s Chair by the two MPs who proposed and seconded his name following which Abeywardena took his oaths before the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake.  

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led party leaders in wishing the new Speaker on his appointment to the high post.  They were unanimous in their call to Speaker Abeywardena to restore the dignity of the House and ensure fair play and a level playing field for all lawmakers who are represented in the Ninth Parliament.

This was followed by all MPs taking their oaths before the Speaker. The MPs read out the oath, made available in all three languages, pledging to uphold and defend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. The New MPs also pledged to “not, directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka.”

After MPs were sworn in, the name of Kegalle district MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was proposed for the post of Deputy Speaker by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and seconded by State Minister Nimal Lanza while SLFP Jaffna district parliamentarian Angajan Ramanathan’s name was proposed for the post of Deputy Chairman of Committees by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and seconded by State Minister Duminda Dissanayake.

The Speaker recognised Dinesh Gunawardena as the Leader of the House and Minister Johnston Fernando as the Chief government Whip. SJB leader Colombo District MP Sajith Premadasa was recognised as the Leader of the Opposition.

Thereafter, sittings were suspended till 3 pm, when the ceremonial sitting of the House, presided over by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa commenced.