COVID guidelines thrown to the winds of joy: Most MPs set bad example
The Ninth Parliament's inaugural session on Thursday and the ceremonial sitting held later in the day, were scaled down affairs, devoid of the usual pomp and pageantry associated with the event.
In the lead-up to the inaugural session at 9.30 a.m, the entire complex was a hive of activity, as the newly elected MPs and their family members, friends and well-wishers arrived to take their seats. COVID-19 prevention guidelines issued specifically for Parliament meant that an MP was only entitled to a single gallery pass for a family member or friend. One new MP, who had arrived with his wife, had left the gallery pass at home, prompting Parliament staff to make arrangements to issue him a new one. The personal secretary of another was stopped from going to the Parliament gallery by police since he did not have a pass.
Most newly elected MPs arrived in their personal vehicles. There were two exceptions to this. Colombo district Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Madura Vithanage, the former Mayor of Kotte, came in a boat traversing the Diyawanna Oya. The other MP to use a different mode of transport was Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan, former Eastern
Province Chief Minister and newly elected Batticaloa district MP of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP). He was escorted to Parliament in a prison bus. Pillayan has been in remand custody since 2015 in connection with the 2005 assassination of Tamil National Alliance MP Joseph Pararajasingham. Prison officials had earlier transferred him from the Batticaloa prison to Welikada so that he could attend Parliament.
In terms of the Health Ministry's COVID-19 guidelines, the newly elected members were required to wear masks at all times while in the chamber, even when speaking. They were also asked to maintain a one-metre distance from each other when not sitting in the chamber and to avoid shaking hands or hugging. None of these guidelines were adhered to, however, with many MPs taking off their masks inside the chamber. There were plenty of backslaps, hugs and shaking of hands. Some MPs were even seen posing for group selfies which they promptly uploaded to their personal social media accounts.
Things were more controlled in the gallery, with Parliament staff crossing off every other seat with red tape to ensure people maintained social distancing.
At the beginning of the session, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees were elected with unanimous support of the House.
House Leader Dinesh Gunawardena proposed the name of Matara district SLPP MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena for the post of Speaker. His name was seconded by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General
Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara. He took oaths after being escorted to the Speaker’s Chair by the two MPs who proposed and seconded his name. He then took oaths before Parliament Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake. The new Speaker was thereafter congratulated by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and other party leaders, who urged him to be fair to all and maintain the dignity of the House.
The new MPs then took their oaths, which were made available in all three languages.
The posts of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees went to the SLPP’s junior coalition partner - the Sri
Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
SLFP Kegalle district MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya was elected as the Deputy Speaker while Jaffna district SLFP MP Angajan Ramanathan was named Deputy Chairperson of Committees. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena then adjourned proceedings till 3.00pm.
At 3 p.m., Parliament convened again for a ceremonial sitting where President Gotabaya Rajapaksa delivered the Government's policy statement.
The President dispensed with the usual ceremonial motorcade used on such occasions and arrived at Parliament in his official vehicle. He had also instructed officials not to hold a guard of honour or 21-gun salute for him. The President was met at the entrance of the Parliament complex main building by the new Speaker and the Secretary General of Parliament. They then escorted him inside along with Parliament’s Serjeant-at-Arms while a troupe of male and female dancers dressed in traditional attire danced to the tune of drums.
The President in his policy statement largely touched on familiar themes, focusing on national security, employment and development of local industries. He also pledged to abolish the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, introduce a new Constitution, and give priority to the concept of “One country, one law” for all people.
At the conclusion of the speech, Parliament was adjourned till the following day and the MPs, their families and other dignitaries attended the traditional tea party.