Ceremonial opening of 2nd session of 9th Parliament...
January 18, 2022
The ceremonial opening of the second session of the 9th Parliament got underway today (January 18) under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Upon his arrival in the House, the Head of State presented the Government Policy Statement at 10.00 a.m. in accordance with the powers vested in him by Article 33 (2) of the Constitution. As arrangements were made to hold the ceremony in a very simple manner, on the instructions of the President, there were no gun salutes or car parades to mark his arrival. Instead, the President and the First Lady were received in front of Parliament with a cultural salute with the participation of the Police Cultural Division. The Members of Parliament arrived at the Parliament premises first, followed by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the Secretary-General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayaka accorded a warm welcome to the President at the main steps of the Parliament building. The duo then escorted the President to Parliament House along with the Serjeant-at-Arms, Deputy Serjeant-at-Arms and Assistant Serjeant-at-Arms.
