Sign language in Parliament for first time | Sunday Observer

Sign language in Parliament for first time

24 October, 2021

The Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has approved the provision of simultaneous sign language interpretation during the 2022 Budget debate in consideration of the hearing-impaired community, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said.

The matter which was proposed by the Speaker was taken up at the Committee on Parliamentary Business and approval was granted for a simultaneous sign language window broadcast parallel to the live telecast of the Budget debate.

Parliament will convene at 10.00 a.m. on November 9, and the session is expected to continue till 5.30 p.m. The Adjournment Debate on the three Reports presented to Parliament by the Committee on Public Accounts on July 20, October 6 and 7, 2021 is scheduled for this date.

It was also decided to set aside the entire day on November 8 for Questions for Oral Answers.

Time has been allocated from 10.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. for 50 questions which were postponed due to the pandemic.

Parliament is due to convene on November 8, 9, 10 and 11 and the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill 2022 (Budget Speech) will be presented by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on November 12 at 2.00 pm. Thereafter, the Budget Debate will be held daily including Saturdays, except for Sundays and public holidays, until December 10.

On November 10, time has been allotted for the Prime Minister’s Questions from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Later, from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. - allotted for Questions for oral answers.

Thereafter, from 11.00 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. the Appropriation (Amendment) Bill to amend the Appropriation Act, No. 7 of 2020 applicable for the financial year 2021, Regulations under the Import and Export (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 and the Immigrants and Emigrants (Amendment) Bill have been scheduled to be passed in Parliament post-debate.

Time has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers on November 11 from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. Thereafter, from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Termination of Employment of Workmen (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, Minimum Retirement Age of Workers Bill, Order under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children’s Act and Regulations under the Land Acquisition Act are due to be taken up.

On November 10 and 11, time has been allotted for Questions at Adjournment Time from 4.30 p.m. to 4.50 p.m. and from 4.50 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. for Motions at Adjournment Time.

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