President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will present the new Government ‘s Policy Statement at a ceremonial sitting of the first session of the Ninth Parliament on Thursday afternoon, the same day newly elected MPs are sworn in.
Parliament will meet at 9.30 a.m. on 20 August where the new Speaker will be first appointed following which the MPs will take their oaths before him. The Speaker will be sworn in by the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake in keeping with the Standing Orders of the House.
Sitting will be suspended after this and will resume at 3 p.m. when the President will make the statement of Government's policy as provided by Article 33(2) of the Constitution.
Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena’s name has been confirmed for the post of Speaker.
The ceremonial sitting at which the President will address the House will be low key with the SG receiving him upon arrival at the Parliament building, followed by the hoisting of the Presidential flag.
The President will deliver the Policy Statement from the Speaker’s Chair as has been the practice.