Parliament of Sri Lanka

The Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාර්ලිමේන්තුව, romanized: Śrī Laṇkā Pārlimentuvā; Tamil: இலங்கை நாடாளுமன்றம், romanized: Ilaṅkai nāṭāḷumaṉṟam') is the main group that makes laws in Sri Lanka. It has the highest power to make rules for the whole country. The Parliament works in a way that is similar to the British Parliament.

The 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka began meeting on 21 November 2024. It has 225 members called Members of Parliament (MPs). These members are chosen by people voting in elections every five years. They vote using a system called proportional representation, where everyone can vote, known as universal suffrage.

The President of Sri Lanka can call meetings of the Parliament, stop them for a while, or end them completely. The President can end the Parliament after at least 2 and a half years, or if more than two-thirds of the MPs ask for it. When the President makes these decisions, they can be checked by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka to make sure they follow the rules. The Parliament is led by a person called the Speaker, or sometimes by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees if the Speaker is not there.

Standing Orders of Parliament

The Standing Orders of Parliament are the rules that help members know how to behave and talk about issues in Parliament. These rules keep the work of Parliament organized and are important for its procedures. The first rules were made in 1912, using the rules of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. They have been changed many times. The rules we use now were set in 1979.

Powers

In Sri Lanka, new laws need approval from the Parliament. This includes laws that change the country's Constitution. The Parliament also decides how the government spends and collects money.

Government leaders must answer questions from Parliament members often. There are special groups called select committees that study different issues and how the government works.

Privileges

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has special rules to protect its members. These rules let them speak freely without worrying about being sued or arrested for civil matters. This helps them share important reports, papers, and decisions openly.

Parliament and its committees can call anyone or ask for any records or documents they need to do their work. These rules are like the ones used in the parliamentary privilege in the United Kingdom.

History

See also: List of parliaments of Sri Lanka and List of parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka

The first groups of leaders in Ceylon, called the Executive Council and the Legislative Council, started on 13 March 1833. These groups helped guide the island’s leaders, but the Governor could choose not to follow their advice. Over time, more people, including local citizens, joined these groups.

In 1931, the Legislative Council was replaced by the State Council, where more people could vote. After Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948, a new two-part parliament was created. One part, the Senate, had members chosen by leaders, and the other, the House of Representatives, had members voted in by the public.

Later changes removed the Senate and created a single Parliament. In 1978, the current Parliament of Sri Lanka was formed, with members chosen by voters across different areas of the country.

In 2015, the two largest political groups in Sri Lanka worked together to form a joint government for the first time. The leader of the group with the most votes became prime minister.

Members and elections

Main article: Member of Parliament (Sri Lanka)

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has 225 members. Most of them, 196, are chosen by voters in 22 different areas called electoral districts. These areas each elect more than one member. The other 29 members are chosen from a national list. They come from political parties or independent groups based on how much of the country's vote each group received.

When Parliament starts after an election, it picks three members to be important leaders. These leaders are called the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the Deputy Chairman of Committees. When they lead meetings, they wear special ceremonial clothes.

Parliament Secretariat

The Parliament Secretariat handles all the work for the Parliament. It is led by the Secretary General of Parliament, who is chosen by the President and approved by the Constitutional Council. Before September 6, 1978, this role was called the Clerk of Parliament.

The Sergeant-at-Arms keeps order and security in the Parliament building and helps with ceremonies. They carry a special symbol called the ceremonial mace into the House each day before the Speaker, and the mace stays on the Table of the House during meetings.

The Parliament Secretariat has nine departments to help with its work, including administration, recording speeches, managing information, and handling finances. There is also a Staff Advisory Committee that gives advice about staff matters. This committee includes the Speaker, the Leader of the House, the Minister of Finance, and the Leader of the Opposition.

The Parliament also looks after certain buildings, such as the Speaker's Residence and housing for members of Parliament.

Parliament buildings

Main article: Sri Lankan Parliament Building

When Sri Lanka was ruled by Britain, leaders met in a building now called the "Republic Building." This building is now used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1930, a new building was opened for meetings near the ocean in Colombo. This building was used for many years.

Later, leaders decided to build a new Parliament building across from the old one. In 1979, plans were made for a new Parliament on an island near Colombo. The building was designed by a famous architect and opened in 1982 by the President.

Current parliament

Main article: 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka

The Parliament of Sri Lanka is the main group that makes laws for the country. It has a lot of power and helps decide important things for everyone in Sri Lanka. The way it works is similar to the Parliament in the United Kingdom.