Dec 02, 2019 (LBO) – President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by way of a proclamation has prorogued Parliament with effect from midnight.
It has been fixed for the third day of January 2020 at 10.00 a.m. for the commencement of the next session.
The President is empowered to make a statement of government policy at the commencement of each new session but statements made by the President are neither debated nor put to the vote.
During the prorogation, the Speaker continues to function and the members retain their membership even though they do not attend meetings of Parliament.
The effect of a prorogation is to suspend all current business before the House and all proceedings pending at the time are quashed except impeachments.
A Bill, motion or question of the same substance cannot be introduced for a second time during the same session. However, it could be carried forward at a subsequent session after a prorogation.
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