Vital Bills including the Bill to amend the Judicature Act will be tabled in Parliament this week, after Parliament is ceremonially opened for the second session of the Eighth Parliament by President Maithripala Sirisena.
The ceremonial sitting due to take place at 2.15 p.m. on Tuesday, will be restricted to the delivery of the Policy Statement by the President which will highlight the future course of the Unity Government.
After the President’s address, Parliament will be adjourned. According to the Parliament calendar, sittings will be held on May 9 and 10.
Parliamentary sources confirmed that the Government has given a full day’s debate on May 10 from 10.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. for Parliamentarians to air their views on the Policy
Statement. The debate on the Judicature (Amendment) Bill is also due to be taken up in Parliament on May 9.
The President issued a gazette notification proroguing Parliament with effect from April 12 midnight until May 8. The last time Parliament was prorogued was on May 17, 2009 and it was reconvened on May 19, 2009.