PM expects novice members of parliament to dedicate to public service

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe in conversation with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya (right) and Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala at the start of the two-day workshop for Parliamentarians yesterday - Pic by Pradeep Pathirana

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe yesterday said the public elected the legislators at the elections expecting a parliament to serve them dutifully and asked the novice members of the eighth parliament to dedicate themselves to fulfill people’s expectations.

Regardless of which party they are from, Government party or the Opposition, every member has to work in the Parliament as the people expected, the Prime Minister said.

Addressing a two-day workshop conducted on behalf of new MPs at the parliament complex, he said the main responsibility of parliamentarians is to fulfill the people’s wishes.

Observing that only 62 Parliamentarians were present, the first day of the workshop, the Prime Minister said he expected all newly elected to Parliament to attend the workshop.

Pointing out that a request was made from the Speaker to submit at the end of the workshop a list of new MPs who participated in the workshop, the PM said only those who are being approved by the Speaker would be given funds from the decentralized budget.

More facilities should be given to the MPs to work in Parliament. As such initially their behavior should be good, the PM stressed. A budget office would be given to Parliament, he added. Wickremasinghe enlightened the new MPs that the major responsibilities of the parliament are to introduce a new electoral system and a constitution. He further said that measures will also be taken to broadcast live the parliamentary proceedings. Addressing the new MPs, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said that the parliament should set an example to the entire country.

The Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake delivered the welcome address. Chief Government Whip Minister Gayantha Karunatilaka and United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program Subinay Nandy were among those present at the launch of the workshop.

Democracy includes safeguarding Parliament and Judiciary: PM

Democracy does not mean only preparing the Constitution but includes safeguarding vital institutions such as Parliament and the Judiciary, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asserted yesterday, in his keynote address to a workshop organised for newly-elected Parliamentarians.

PM says P’ment proceedings to be telecast live

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says Parliament proceedings will be telecast live on television from next year.

He said that the relevant authorities are looking into telecasting Parliament proceedings live and this would somehow be done from next year. The Prime Minister said that the public would then be able to know who was attending Parliament and who was not.