MPs to pass 2019 Coronavirus Disease (Temporary Provisions) Bill

COLOMBO: Leaders of political parties in Sri Lanka’s parliament decided to limit this week’s parliament sitting to just one day from four after as many as five MPs tested positive for COVID-19 within two weeks.

Parliament sittings were scheduled for four days this week from Tuesday to Friday.

Many legislators are in self quarantine after some of their colleagues were found to have been infected with the novel coronavirus early this month.

“At an emergency party leaders meeting, it was decided to hold this week’s sitting of Parliament only Tuesday(17),” Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said in a statement.

On Tuesday, parliament is expected to pass the second reading of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (Covid- 19) (Temporary Provisions) Bill and another four orders.

After Tuesday’s session, Sri Lanka’s legislature will be adjourned until Monday, September 6.

Already, the parliamentary business committee had decided to have special parliamentary days on both September 6 and 27 for ministers to respond to long pending questions of current importance.

At least 19 legislators out of 225 Sri Lanka’s parliament have been infected with the virus since late 2020.