New MPs and guests seek photo opp. with President

The tea party following the Presidential address at the inaugural sessions of the Ninth Parliament on Thursday evening also turned out to be a photo/selfie session with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Most of the newly elected Parliamentarians and their family members flocked to snap a click.

The heavily packed symmetrical building complex saw newly elected Parliamentarians with their guests forming a queue to have some short eats and ice coffee, while in the designated middle area where senior Parliamentarians were seated, crowds gathered to take a picture with the President.

One of the Presidential Security Division guards was instructing guests not to take selfies but only a simple photo with the President. The first lady was just around the corner, chatting with guests while waiting for her husband who was visibly tired.

Among those lining up to get a picture was actress turned politician Diana Gamage who is the Deputy General-Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

In another corner was the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, attracting less crowds compared to President Rajapaksa, while chatting with his fellow Parliamentarians.

A group of Parliamentary staff and some journalists approached him to take photos which he welcomed and readily agreed to.

Then there was Education Minister G L Peiris who was standing in another corner, holding some files as others were busy running around to take photos. Prof Peiris made the move and approached the girls who chanted Jayamangala gatha for a group photo, to which the girls agreed.