Opening of the Ninth Parliament | Sunday Observer

Opening of the Ninth Parliament

23 August, 2020

The ceremonial opening of the Ninth Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Reading of the Policy Statement of the Government by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took place on Thursday, August 20, without paraphernalia, pomp and pageant.

The photographs display how the President arrived at the Parliament a few minutes before 3.00 p.m. minus the ceremonial horse riders and motorcade, symbolising his desire for simplicity. Members of Parliamen new and old had ‘chit-chat’ while sipping tea at the tea party organised by the Speaker of the House to host the President, Prime Minister, Ministers and Members of Parliament, their family members and distinguished invitees which inclduded the Colombo based Heads of Missions.With 81 new faces in the ninth Parliament, the Speaker has arranged two days of training sessions for the new members to get them accustomed to parliamentary traditions and standing orders.

This is the first time that no UNP Member was present at the time of opening a new Parliament as the Party had not decided on the National List Member, the only UNP seat in the new Parliament.

Pix: Sulochana Gamage, Dushyantha Mayadunne and Gayan Pushpika

 


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