• Prez to address House when it is convened after Independence

By Kelum Bandara  

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to be planning to prorogue Parliament on January 27 and address the nation through the House when it is convened for the newest session after the Independence Day celebration on February 4, Daily Mirror learns.  

An informed source said the President is contemplating on prorogation of the House for about ten days.  A prorogation is a temporary recess of Parliament, and should not extend to a period of more than two months. However, such date for summoning Parliament may be advanced by another Presidential Proclamation provided it is summoned for a date not less than three days from the date of such fresh proclamation. When Parliament is prorogued, the Proclamation should notify the date for the commencement of the new Session of Parliament under Paragraph (3) of Article 70 of the Constitution.  

The President, as the Head of State, is empowered to make a statement of government policy at the commencement of each new Session after prorogation. Most committees including the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) and the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) will have to be re-constituted after prorogation.  

According to the source, the President is planning to make a statement. The President’s move comes in the context of the government taking unpopular revenue measures. Also, the government has to face the presidential elections at the end of this year.