Tenth Parliament inaugurated
Dr. Ashoka Ranwala elected Speaker
Dr. Rizvie Salih Deputy Speaker
Sajith nominated Opposition Leader
The first session of Tenth Parliament began yesterday at 10 a.m. The proceedings commenced with the Secretary-General of Parliament reading the Extraordinary Gazette Notifications issued by the President outlining the date and time for the session.
The 2024 Parliamentary Elections held on November 14, marked a notable transformation in the political landscape of the country, as the National People’s Power (NPP), under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake gained landslide victory.
The NPP achieved a landslide victory, obtaining 159 out of the 225 seats in Parliament. This total includes 141 directly elected and 18 appointed through the national list. Notably, over 150 of the 196 elected members of Parliament are newcomers.
National People’s Power (NPP) Gampaha District MP Dr.Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was unanimously elected as the new Speaker of Parliament. The appointment of Dr. Ranwala was proposed by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and seconded by Cabinet Minister Vijitha Herath. The newly elected Members of Parliament were sworn in following the election of the Speaker during the inaugural session of the new Parliament this morning.
The MPs of the tenth Parliament took oath before Speaker Ashoka Ranwala in the chambers. Dr.Mohamed Rizvie Salih has been elected unanimously as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th Parliament. His nomination was put forward by Health and Media Minister Dr.Nalinda Jayatissa and seconded by Women’s Affairs Minister Saroja Paulraj. Speaker Dr. Ashoka Ranwala announced that the nomination of Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been approved as the Opposition Leader of the Tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Following this, Parliament was adjourned until 11.30 a.m.and the Speaker requested that one representative from each political party that participated in the election attend a meeting of party leaders in his official room.
Subsequently, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake arrived at Parliament to present the government’s Policy Statement during the ceremonial opening of the first session of the Tenth Parliament.
Speaker
Dr. Ashoka Ranwala
Dr. Ashoka Ranwala represents the Gampaha District and entered Parliament following the most recent General Election. Beginning his political career as a member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Dr. Ranwala currently serves as a member of the National Executive Committee of the NPP. Dr. Ranwala completed his primary education at Yatiyana Primary School and his secondary education at Henegama Central College.
He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering
from the Moratuwa University and a doctorate in Biochemistry from the Waseda University, Japan.
He is also the director of BioGenic Green Technology Research Institute, which is aimed at developing sustainable biogenic agricultural practices. He was employed at Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s Sapugaskanda Refinery.
Previously he has represented the Biyagama Pradeshiya Sabha once and the Western Provincial Council twice as a member.
Deputy Speaker
Dr. Rizvie Salih
National People’s Power (NPP) Colombo District MP Dr. Rizvie Salih has been unanimously elected as the new Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Dr. Rizvie Salih who is a medical practitioner with over 35 years of experience and contested the 2024 General Election from the Colombo District securing the 12th highest votes in the district having polled 73,018 preference votes.
He is an graduate of Nishtar Medical College, Multan and New College, Madras.
Deputy Chairman of Committees
Hemali
NPP Gampaha District MP Hemali Weerasekara was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairman of Committees. Her nomination was proposed by Minister Sunil Handunnetti and was seconded by MP Samanmalee Gunasinghe. Weerasekera is a former member of the Mahara Pradeshiya Sabha and she is a medical laboratory technician by profession.
She completed her education at Yasodara Vidyalaya, Colombo and Devi BalikaVidyalaya, Colombo. Weerasekara has been an active member of the NPP’s district and women’s executive committees.
Leader of the House Bimal
Chief Government Whip Nalinda
(by: Irangika Range )
Speaker Ashoka Ranwala announced to the Parliament yesterday that Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake has been appointed as the Leader of the House and Health and Media, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has been appointed as the Chief Government Whip of the tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka.
Minister Rathnayake assumed duties as the new Leader of the House while Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa assumed duties as the Chief Government Whip of the tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka yesterday evening.
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