(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –The Parliament will convene from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm on the 12th of November under which the 2020 Appropriation Bill will be taken up for debate. This was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business meeting held today (09), according to the Parliament Communications Department.
Accordingly, the Second and Third Readings of the Appropriation Bill will take place from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm. From 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm the Adjournment Debate under a motion moved by the Opposition will take place.
Whilst Questions for Oral Answers will not be taken up on the said date, it was also decided that the Sittings will continue without a lunch break.
Meanwhile, the Appropriation Bill for 2021 will be presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on the 17th November.
It was discussed that post the presenting of the Appropriation Bill the Second Reading and Committee Stage debate should be limited to 11 days due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation. Disapproving on the matter, the Opposition proposed that the complete number of days should be allotted for the Second Reading and Committee Stage.
Accordingly, a decision regarding the number of days wasn’t made conclusive and it was mutually agreed that the Committee on Parliamentary Business will meet again on the 12th in order to further decide regarding the said matter.
The Committee on Parliamentary Business was chaired by the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and the Deputy Speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, The Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Mahinda Amaraweera, Susil Premajayantha, Wimal Weerawansa, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rauff Hakeem, Gayantha Karunatilleka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Mano Ganesan as well as the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake and Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Neil Iddawela were also in attendance.
