COVID-19 alert: Media not allowed to enter Parliament to cover Nov. 3 proceedings

COLOMBO: Next week’s sittings of Sri Lanka Parliament are being restricted to one day due to the COVID -19 pandemic, according to the government’s official news portal.

Accordingly, Parliament will convene from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Nov. 3.   No time will be allotted for the Questions for Oral Answers.

This  was decided by the Committee on Parliament Business, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhane, met on Thursday at the Parliamentary Complex.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Prof. G.L Peiris, Dullas Alahapperuma, Mahinda Amaraweera, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prasanna Ranatunga, Ali Sabri and MPs Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rauff Hakeem, Dilan Perera, as well as the secretary-general of parliament Dhammika Dassanayake and the deputy secretary-general and Chief of Staff Neil Iddawela were present at the meeting.

Two regulations to the Medical Ordinance submitted by Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi will be taken up for debate on Nov. 3.

The committee decided to meet on Nov. 12 and pass the Appropriation Bill presented by the minister of finance for the service expenditure for the financial year 2020 following the second and third reading.

It has been decided not to allow anyone other than Members of Parliament, invited officers, security personnel and the Parliament staff to enter the Parliament complex on the sitting days.

The media will also not be allowed to enter the Parliament premises to cover parliamentary sittings.