New parliament convenes on December 17

[TamilNet, Monday, 10 December 2001, 19:42 GMT]
President Chandrika Kumaratunge has decided to convene the 12th parliament on December 17 at 10 a.m., the Presidential Secretariat said in a news release Monday. Earlier, the date of convening the new parliament had been fixed for January 01, 2002. The decision to advance the date of the inaugural session of 12th parliament was taken under article 70 of the Constitution, following representations made by the Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna, the press release added.

The United National Party has also agreed to the new date for the convening of the new parliament be advanced to December 17. The President has taken this decision in view of the many incidents of political violence in the country following the 12th parliamentary election held on December 4. President Chandrika Kumaratunge is to issue a proclamation in this regard by gazette extraordinary midnight Monday, press release further said.

In the meantime, delegations of the United National party and the People's Alliance met Monday night. After discussions the two parties issued a joint declaration. It said both parties have agreed that there will be ongoing meetings at regular intervals to identify all matters of national concerns including the peace process.

The delegation of the UNP comprised the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe, Mr.Karu Jayasuriya, the Deputy Leader, Mr.Gamini Atukorale, Assistant Leader and Mr.K.N.Choksy. The delegation of the People's Alliance comprised former Prime Minister Mr.Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and former ministers Mr.Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mr.Mangala Samaraweera and Mr.Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna met President Chandrika Kumaratunge at President's House Monday afternoon and told her not to plunge the country into a political and constitutional crisis when taking decisions in future. The JVP delegation comprised Mr. Wimal Weerawanse, Mr.Tilvin Silva and Mr.Nandana Gunatilake.