Tenth P’ment meets for the first time with many firsts

• The usual scene of seeing rows of luxury vehicles bringing in MPs was also not to be seen this time
• The President and the Prime Minister entered the Parliamentary complex with one back-up vehicle each

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The tenth Parliament met yesterday creating history with novel features seen for the first time. For the first time, first- timer Dr. Asoka Ranwala, was elected Speaker of the House uncontested. 

He is the first Speaker with doctoral credentials.    

 Also, newcomers Dr. Mohamed Rizwi Sally was appointed the Deputy Speaker and Hemali Weerasekera the Deputy Chairman of committees.   

Limiting felicitations to the new Speaker by the members was yet another new feature. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya made the first felicitation speech followed by Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa and MP Rauff Hakeem.  

Dr. Ranwala announced that felicitation speeches will be limited in order to enable the conduct of other activities in time.  

Presence of fewer invitees was also noticeable unlike in the past where the gallery was full of invitees. The usual scene of seeing rows of luxury vehicles bringing in MPs was also not to be seen this time. Most of the new MPs came in either by double cabs or vans.  

The tea party which followed the opening of the session of the Parliament was also different as the guests were limited. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was seen talking freely to all guests. The President and the Prime Minister entered the Parliamentary complex with one back-up vehicle each. President was seen seated in the front seat. The ceremony was a simple one with no military parades, gun salutes and reciting of the traditional Jaya Mangala Gatha.    

Dr. Ashoka Ranwala -The Speaker  

Dr Rizvie Salih - Deputy Speaker  

Sajith Premadasa-Opposition Leader

National People’s Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Minister Vijitha Herath.  

NPP MP Dr Rizvie Salih was elected Deputy Speaker following a proposal by MP Nalinda Jayatissa, seconded by MP Saroja Savithri Paulraj.  

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.