Parliament to take up a special debate on COVID-19 on Friday | Daily News

Parliament to take up a special debate on COVID-19 on Friday

The Committee on Parliament Business chaired by the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today decided to take upon an adjournment debate on the present COVID-19 pandemic situation prevailing in the country on October 23, Friday. The motion of condolence which was scheduled to be moved on the said day shall not be moved. Accordingly the parliament session will commence at 10.00 a.m. on Friday and go on until 4.30 in the evening. The agenda includes the oral questions round and the adjournment debate. The House will debate without taking a lunch break, Parliament media unit said.

 


UPDATE: Parliament to debate COVID-19 situation on Friday

The Committee on Parliament Business chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena yesterday decided to take up an Adjournment Debate on the present COVID-19 pandemic situation prevailing in the country on October 23, Friday. The motion of condolence which was scheduled to be moved on the said day shall not be moved.

Accordingly, the Parliament session will commence at 10 a.m. on Friday and go on until 4.30 p.m.. The agenda includes the Oral Questions round and the Adjournment Debate. The House will debate without taking a lunch break, the Parliament Media Unit said.

The Committee arrived at this decision as National People’s Power leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake requested a debate in the House on the present COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“Initially there was a plan to debate this matter either today or tomorrow. However, since the Government insisted on taking the 20A, we are not able to hold this debate. So I would like to request the House to decide on a date. I would propose October 23, Friday,” Dissanayake observed.

Responding to Dissanayake’s request, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said they could discuss the matter at the Parliament Affairs Committee Meeting and schedule the debate for Friday (23).