By: Isuru Parakrama
November 11, Colombo (LNW): The Parliamentary Communications Department has announced that Sri Lanka’s Tenth Parliament will officially convene on November 21, following the conclusion of the 2024 General Election scheduled for November 14.
This election will determine the 225 Members of Parliament, consisting of 196 representatives elected directly by public vote and an additional 29 appointed through the national list.
The first day of the new Parliament will be marked by a series of formal proceedings, beginning with the seating of all MPs in an open arrangement, as specific seating assignments are not yet established.
Following the ceremonial entry of the mace, the Secretary-General will present the Extraordinary Gazette Notification that officially calls Parliament to session.
One of the primary tasks on this day is the election of the Speaker, a position critical to the smooth functioning of parliamentary operations.
According to procedure, any MP may be nominated for the Speaker’s role, provided they are willing to accept the appointment.
If multiple candidates are nominated, a vote will take place, and in cases where more than two candidates are proposed, the voting rounds continue, eliminating candidates with the fewest votes until one achieves a majority.
Traditionally, the elected Speaker is escorted to the Speaker’s chair by the Members who proposed and seconded their nomination, symbolising their acceptance of the role.
Upon reaching the Speaker’s chair, the new Speaker will then take the oath of office before Parliament, thanking the Members for their confidence.
Should there be a need for a secret ballot, a standardised process will ensure the integrity of the election, with Members submitting their choices on signed ballot papers.
If a tie results in two rounds of voting, the Secretary-General is authorised to draw lots to determine the Speaker, a practice reserved for closely contested elections.
In addition to electing the Speaker, the first session will see the selection of the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson of Committees, with similar procedures for nominations and voting.
Following these appointments, the first session typically concludes with an adjournment until the next scheduled parliamentary day.
However, if the President chooses to address Parliament to outline the government’s policy agenda, the session will only be temporarily adjourned before reconvening for the address.
