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 law-making group in Sri Lanka. It has the highest power to make rules and decisions 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 for the first time on 21 November 2024. It has 225 members called Members of Parliament (MPs). These members are chosen by people voting in elections that happen every five years, 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 guide how members behave and discuss issues in the Parliament. These rules help organize the work of Parliament and are very important for its procedures. The first set of these rules was created in 1912, based on the rules of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and they have been updated many times. The rules we use today were set in 1979.

Powers

In Sri Lanka, all new laws must be approved by the Parliament. This includes laws that can change or add to the country's Constitution. The Parliament also controls how money is spent and collected by the government.

Government leaders must answer questions from Parliament members regularly. There are special groups called select committees that look closely at different issues and how the government is working.

Privileges

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has special rules to protect its members. These rules give them freedom to speak their minds without fear of being sued or arrested for civil issues. This helps them share important reports, papers, and decisions openly.

Parliament and its committees can also call anyone or ask for any records or documents they need to do their work. These rules are similar to 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 group of leaders in Ceylon, called the Executive Council and the legislative council, began 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, trying to solve problems after a long conflict. 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 is in charge of all the administrative work for the Parliament. It is led by the Secretary General of Parliament, who is chosen by the President and must be 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 also 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 under British rule, leaders met in a building that is now called the "Republic Building," 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 by different groups of leaders.

Later, leaders decided to build a new Parliament building across from the old one. Finally, in 1979, plans were made to build 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 the most power and can decide on important matters for everyone in Sri Lanka. The way it works is inspired by the Parliament in the United Kingdom.