The Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera, has announced that Parliament is scheduled to convene on May 8 and 9.
She further explained that the parliamentary agenda for these days was finalized during a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, held on May 2 under the chairmanship of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.
The proceedings for Thursday, May 8, will begin with parliamentary business from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., in accordance with Standing Orders 22(1) to 22(6).
From 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., time has been allocated for Questions for Oral Answers, followed by Questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The main debate from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. will focus on a resolution related to the Customs Ordinance (Chapter 235), Schedule “A,” concerning Import Duties, presented on April 9, 2025, and Gazette Extraordinary No. 2421/05 dated January 27, 2025.
From 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Opposition will present a Motion at the Adjournment Time.
On Friday, May 9, the schedule will begin similarly, with parliamentary business from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. as per Standing Orders 22(1) to 22(6).
The time from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. will be dedicated to Questions for Oral Answers, followed by Questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The afternoon session from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. will focus on debating six Private Members’ Motions, as detailed by the Department of Communications of Parliament. The motions to be debated include:
• A motion to appropriately curtail the privileges enjoyed by people’s representatives in Parliament, and former heads of state and their widows, presented by MP Hesha Withanage.
• A motion to formulate a programme to enhance state sector involvement in the importation and distribution of essential food items, presented by MP Rohana Bandara.
• A motion to prepare a course of action for implementing the recommendations made in audit reports, presented by MP Chaminda Wijesiri.
• A motion to provide a house for every family in Sri Lanka, presented by MP Ravi Karunanayake.
• A motion to formulate laws to allow only the importation of buses that comply with public transport standards, presented by MP Ravindra Bandara.
• A motion to take action to utilize all buildings constructed under “development proposals” but currently unused, for public purposes, presented by MP Lal Premanath.
The final half-hour from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. will be allocated to take up Questions at the Adjournment Time.
