December 18, Colombo (LNW): Parliament is set to meet today (18) to consider a substantial supplementary allocation of Rs. 500 billion, intended to support communities whose livelihoods have been disrupted by a sudden and severe disaster situation.
The special sittings have been convened at the request of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in line with parliamentary procedure, according to the Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera. The House will sit over two days, today and tomorrow, to address the matter.
The decision to summon Parliament was reached during a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held yesterday, chaired by Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. The Parliamentary Communications Department confirmed that the urgency of the prevailing situation prompted the move.
Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9.30 a.m. today, when the proposed supplementary estimate for 2026 will be formally presented and referred to the Committee on Public Finance for review. The allocation is aimed at funding relief measures and economic recovery for those affected by recent extreme weather events.
Following the presentation, Parliament will take up an adjournment debate initiated by the Government, focusing on the broader national impact of the disaster and the response measures in place. The debate is expected to continue until the evening.
Parliament will reconvene tomorrow for a full-day sitting, during which the supplementary funding proposal will be debated and put to a vote.
The Speaker had earlier announced the extraordinary sitting through a gazette notification issued last week, confirming that the House would be summoned today after the Prime Minister formally requested an emergency session.
