Parliament is scheduled to convene from September 8 to 11, following a decision taken by the Committee on Parliamentary Business.

The decision was made at a recent meeting of the Committee held on August 20 under the chairmanship of Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne.On Tuesday, September 8, parliamentary business under Standing Order 22(1) to (6) will be taken up from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., followed by Questions for Oral Answers from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

From 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., the House will debate for approval two Orders published in Extraordinary Gazettes Nos. 2489/22 and 2493/19 under the Motor Traffic Act (Chapter 203).The Opposition’s Motion at the Adjournment Time will then be taken up from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.On Wednesday, September 9, parliamentary business under Standing Order 22(1) to (6) will be taken up from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., followed by Questions to the Prime Minister from 10.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., Questions for Oral Answers from 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., and questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.The Second Reading debate on the Chief of Defense Staff (Repeal) Bill is scheduled from 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., followed by Questions at the Adjournment Time from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, September 10, Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., after the usual parliamentary business from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m. Questions under Standing Order 27(2) will follow from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.From 11.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Parliament will debate for approval a Resolution under the Women’s Empowerment Act.The Government’s Motion at the Adjournment Time will be debated from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.On Friday, September 11, parliamentary business will be taken up from 9.30 a.m. to 10.00 a.m., followed by Questions for Oral Answers from 10.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.From 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., the House will take up several Private Members’ Motions, including:

• Nalin Bandara Jayamaha – Bringing petroleum, fuel and water-related industries under the regulation of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.
• Ajith P. Perera – Providing incentives to family units to increase the birth rate in Sri Lanka.
• Harsha de Silva – Protection of the Diyagama Forest.
• Sujeewa Dissanayake – Abolishing the additional six per cent pension deduction from the salaries of Pirivena teachers.
• Nanda Bandara – Food crop cultivation in mountainous areas.
• T.K. Jayasundara – Developing the Kithul industry.
• M.L.A.M. Hizbullah – Establishment of a Faculty of Medicine at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.

Questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.