Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who congratulated Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, said today the new government intended to introduce parliamentary oversight committees, a budget office and a new constitution.

He said he believed the new Speaker would use his wide and long experience both as a diplomat and a politician and play the pivotal role as the custodian of parliamentary precepts and traditions in achieving these objectives.

The Prime Minister said the people expected political parties to work together in the new parliament in the greater interests of the country.

He said the Speaker could perform the tasks entrusted to him without too many obstacles because even the civil society was keen on strengthening the committee system.(Kelum Bandara)