Parliament meets today amidst fears of fresh COVID-19 outbreak

• MPs, staff and media personnel told to stick strictly to health guidelines
• Reminders sent on wearing masks, hand washing, one-meter distancing and restrictions of numbers in elevators

Parliament will meet today amidst fears of a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 with MPs, staff and media personnel coming into the complex are told to strictly adhere to health guidelines.

They were reminded it is mandatory to wear masks when entering and within the Parliamentary premises at all times, to wash hands or sanitize hands as often as possible and limit the use of the elevators to four persons at a time.

They were also advised to maintain the one-meter distance at all times possible.

When Parliament meets today, the Finance Amendment Bill, the Regulations under the Imports and Exports Control Act will be taken up for debate.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business yesterday, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed that as the new Parliament consists of 15 recognised political parties, party leaders have to be given an opportunity to raise questions under Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament.

Hence it was decided that the Leader of the Opposition or a Leader of a recognised political party would be given an opportunity to raise two questions per day under the Standing Order 27(2) of the Parliament. However, no questions will be allowed on the day the House takes up votes of condolences, which is usually Friday.

It was also decided that the questions raised under this provision should be confined to a matter of urgent public importance as specified in the Standing Orders of Parliament.