The Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament is scheduled to be ceremonially declared open tomorrow (Feb 08) by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The rehearsal for the ceremonial opening was held on Monday (Feb 06) at the Parliament premises to which many were present including students of Presidents’ Girls College, Kotte.
Following the ceremonial opening of the session tomorrow, the President is scheduled to present the Statement of Government Policy in Parliament at 10.00 a.m. pursuant to the powers vested in him under Article 33 of the Constitution.
Upon the instructions of the President, arrangements have been made to hold the ceremonial opening of the fourth session as a formal ceremony and thus, gun salutes and motorcades shall not be held, Serjeant at Arms Narendra Fernando said.
He said that the invited guests have been told to take their seats by 09.15 a.m. tomorrow.
Following the arrival of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and his wife, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will arrive, followed by the arrival of President Wickremesinghe and the first lady.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Secretary General of the Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake will receive the President near the main steps of the Parliament building.
Followed by this welcome, the Speaker and the Secretary General of the Parliament led by the Sergeant at Arms, Deputy Serjeant at Arms and Assistant Serjeant at Arms shall escort the President to the Parliament House.
On that occasion, the students of President Girls’ College, Kotte will sing Jayamangala Gatha and bless the President and the Parliament.
The President who will then arrive at the Robing Room will stay there until approximately 9.55 a.m. and according to tradition, the Deputy Sergeant at Arms, the Sergeant at Arms carrying the Mace, the President followed by the Speaker, the Secretary Generals of Parliament and the Assistant Sergeant at Arms will enter the chamber accordingly.
Upon entering the chamber, the Deputy Sergeant at Arms shall announce “Honorable President” and the members of the ruling party and opposition will stand and salute keeping in accordance with tradition. The President who enters the chamber presides over the House and at this time the Speaker sits with the Secretariat in the lower seat as during the Committee Stage.
After the President presents the Statement of Government Policy, the House will be adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb 09). Following adjournment, a tea party has been organized for the invited guests including diplomats.
Foreign Diplomats, Former Presidents, Chief Justice, Supreme Court Judges, Attorney General, Secretary of Defense, commanders of the three-armed forces and the Inspector General of Police have been invited for the ceremonial Opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament.
