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SRI LANKA
Parliament

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name Parliament
More photos  >>>
Structure of parliament Unicameral
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1949 -
LEADERSHIP
President Karu Jayasuriya (M) 
Notes Elected on 1 Sep. 2015.
Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake (M) 
Notes 15 Feb. 2012 -
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 225 / 225
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


More statistics  >>>
Women (current number) 13 (5.78%)
Mode of designation directly elected 225
Term 6 years
Last renewal dates 17 August 2015
(View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Parliament
Parliament House
SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA KOTTE


(Export mailing lists)
Phone (94 112) 277 288
777 277
Fax (94 112) 777 275
777 501
E-mail cpa@parliament.lk
Website
http://www.priu.gov.lk/Parliament/Indexpa.html
http://www.parliament.lk/

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 7 September 1978
1978 Constitution (Last updated on 3 Oct. 2001)
Mode of designation directly elected 225
Constituencies - 22 multi-member (4 to 20 seats, depending on population) constituencies (for 196 seats)
- one nationwide constituency (29 seats)
Voting system Proportional: Proportional representation system with preferential voting for 196 seats. Each elector selects specific party or independent group and three of its candidates. Parties polling less than one eighth of vote in each constituency are not entitled for seat allocation.
The remaining 29 "national" seats are distributed to political parties in proportion to their overall share of the votes received in the election.
Vacancies filled by substitutes nominated by same party or group which held seat in question.
Voting is not compulsory.
Voter requirements - age: 18 years
- Sri Lankan citizenship
- residence in constituency where voting is held
- disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment of six months or more (in preceding 7 years), death sentence, conviction for corrupt or illegal practice connected with elections, imposition of civic disability.
CANDIDATES
Eligibility - qualified electors
- age: 18 years
- Sri lankan citizenship
- ineligibility: undischarged bankrupt, interest in government contract, acceptance of bribe or gratification offered with view to influencing judgment as MP (in preceding 7 years).
Incompatibilities - holders of public offices
- certain employees of corporations
- membership of police or armed forces
- Judicial officers, Secretary General of Parliament and his staff, members of the Public Service Commission and Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman)
Candidacy requirements - nomination lists submitted from seventh to fifth week prior to polling
- in each district, a party or independent group can nominate up to three more candidates than there are seats to be filled
- groups must also deposit 2,000 rupees per candidate (reimbursable if group polls more than one-eighth of the votes cast in the district)

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 17 August 2015
Timing and scope of renewal Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) won the elections as the largest party in a coalition known as the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG, see note). The UNFGG took 11 more seats than the opposition coalition, the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), led by former President Mahinda Rajapakse. The UPFA includes the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is headed by incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena. Despite belonging to an opposition coalition, some SLFP members opposed Mr. Rajapakse and allied themselves to the governing coalition, the UNFGG. During the elections, the major parties promised good governance, transparency, economic progress and stability in the country. On 21 August, Mr. Wickremasinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister. Later that day, the UNP and the SLFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a new government. The two parties agreed to work together for at least two years. The 46-member Cabinet, formed in September, comprises 33 ministers from the UNFGG and 13 ministers from the SLFP.

The 2015 elections were the first to be held under President Sirisena, the former health minister, who defeated the long-serving President Rajapaksa in presidential elections, held in January 2015. In keeping with the new President's electoral promise, Parliament passed the 19th amendment to the Constitution on 28 April 2015. In particular the amendment re-introduced a two-term limit for each President (lifted in 2010 under President Rajapaksa) and removed the President's power to dissolve Parliament until it has completed four-and-a-half years of its five-year term. Before the amendments, the President could dissolve Parliament after only one year.

Note:
The UNFGG included the UNP, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) as well as SLFP members who opposed former President Rajapakse.
Date of previous elections: 8 & 20 April 2010

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 26 June 2015

Timing of election: Delayed elections

Expected date of next elections: August 2021

Number of seats at stake: 225 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 6,151 (5,595 men, 556 women)

Percentage of women candidates: 9%

Number of parties contesting the election: 36*
*12 political parties and 24 independent groups

Number of parties winning seats: 6

Alternation of power: Not applicable
Note: Presidential system.

Number of parties in government: 6*
*The government also includes a faction of the SLP opposing former President Rajapakse.

Names of parties in government: United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), a faction of the SLP opposing former President Rajapakse, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 1 September 2015

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Karu Jayasuriya (United National Party, UNP)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 117 August 2015
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
15'044'490
11'684'111 (77.66%)

Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
United National Party (UNP)
United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA)
Lanka Tamil State Party (Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, ITAK)
People's Liberation Front (JVP)
Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP)
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats Constituency seats National seats
United National Party (UNP) 106 93 13
United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) 95 83 12
Lanka Tamil State Party (Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, ITAK) 16 14 2
People's Liberation Front (JVP) 6 4 2
Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) 1 1 0
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) 1 1 0
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
214

11

4.89%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
Parliament (24.08.2015, 09.09.2015, 11.09.2015, 07.01.2016)
http://www.crisisgroup.org
http://www.bbc.com

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of Parliament
Term - duration: 6 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament, loss of mandate as Member of Parliament
Appointment - elected by all Members of Parliament
- election held at the first meeting of the Parliament, after general elections
- before Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Member of the Parliament can be candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- simple majority
- several rounds are held when there are many candidates
- if more than one round is held, candidates with the smallest number of votes shall be excluded until one candidate obtains more votes than the remaining candidate

Procedures / results - the Secretary General presides over the Parliament during the voting
- the Secretary General supervises the voting
- the Secretary General announces the results without any delay
- the results can be challenged within one calendar month
STATUS
Status - ranks third in the hierarchy of the State
- in the absence of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister the Speaker may be called upon as acting Head of State
- represents the Parliament in international bodies
- is president ex officio of different committees
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions, in the absence of both of them, the Deputy Chairman of Committee can do it, if none of them is present, a Member elected by the Parliament presides over the sitting

Board
Material facilities - allowance
- official residence
- official car
- additional staff
- domestic staff
- secretariat
- body guards

FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - establishes and modifies the agenda in consultation with the Party Leaders and the Business Committee
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time with the assistance of the Business Committee
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
- can appoint some committees and/or their presiding officers

Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning theParliament
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- grants permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum

Special powers the Secretary General:
- is responsible for establishing the Parliament's budget
- recruits and assigns staff with the approval of the Speaker
- organizes the services of Parliament with the approval of the Speaker
- the President of the Republic appoints the Secretary General
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Parliament
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting when the votes are equal
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- issues a certificate when a bill has been passed by the Parliament, so that it becomes a law

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name Parliament
Structure of parliament Unicameral
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation
Start of the mandate When the MPs take the oath (Art. 63 of the Constitution of Feb. 1978, as amended up to 20.12.1988). Procedure (Art. 63 of the Constitution, SO 5 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka).
Validation of mandates · Validation only in case of challenge by election petitions ((in)validation by the appropriate judiciary). See also Loss of mandate - (c) Election petitions/(d) Loss of mandate for disqualification, including incompatibilities/(g) General procedure.
End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (Art. 62 (2) of the Constitution; for early dissolution, see Art. 70 (1) and (5) of the Constitution). Exception (Art. 70 (7) and 155 (4) (i) of the Constitution).
Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (see Art. 66 (b) of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 66 (b) of the Constitution): an MP resigns by a writing in his own hand addressed to the Secretary-General of Parliament
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the Secretary-General of Parliament
Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Revocation before expiry of mandate by political parties/loss of mandate for resignation of party membership (Art. 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution)
(b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. 66 (i) and 81 of the Constitution)
(c) Loss of mandate by judicial decision:
- Election petitions (Art. 66 (g) of the Constitution; see also Validation of mandates)
- Appeal in the case of revocation by political parties (see (a) Revocation before expiry of mandate by political parties)
(d) Loss of mandate for disqualification, including incompatibilities (Art. 66 (c) to (e), 89 to 91 of the Constitution)
(e) Loss of mandate for absence from sittings of Parliament (Art. 66 (f) of the Constitution)
(f) Death (Art. 66 (a) of the Constitution)
(g) General procedure (Art. 100 of the Constitution)
STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The Speaker
2. The Cabinet Ministers
3. The Deputy Ministers
4. The other MPs
· Outside Parliament: the official order of precedence ranks the MPs in the 14th position.
Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport
· Basic salary (see also Art. 68 of the Constitution): Rs. 265,000 per annum
+ Additional allowance: Rs. 500 per sitting
+ Entertainment allowance: Rs. 1000 per month
+ Fuel allowance: Rs. 7500 per month
+ Cell phone allowance: Rs. 2000 per month
+ Driver's allowance: Rs. 3500 per month
· Total exemption from tax for emoluments drawn as a Member of Parliament
· Pension scheme
· Group Insurance Scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat (see also Art. 65 of the Constitution)
(b) Assistants
(c) Stationery
(d) Official housing
(e) Security guards
(f) Postal and telephone services
(g) Travel and transport
Obligation to declare personal assets Yes
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 67 of the Constitution, Art. 3, 4 and 7 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations: offence or insult (SO 72, 77, and 84 (viii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka), breach of privilege in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (Part II and Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953, Art. 78 of the Standing Orders) (for both, see Discipline)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 67 of the Constitution, Art. 5 (1) and 7 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953).
· It applies only to civil proceedings, covers all offences, but protects MPs only from arrest and detention.
· No derogations are foreseen.
· However, evidence of proceedings in the House or a committee cannot be given without leave of the House (Art. 17 of the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953).
· Protection is provided from 40 days before the session starts until 40 days after the House has been prorogued or dissolved. Since parliamentary inviolability does not cover judicial proceedings in general, it does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) cannot be lifted.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. It consists of seminars.
· It is provided by Parliament and political parties. Other.
· There is no handbook of parliamentary procedure.
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is not compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings or other meetings.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to attend: loss of mandate or loss of committee membership
Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in SO 72 to 78, 84 (vi), (viii), and (xii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Call to order (SO 84 (xii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Naming, suspension, and direction to withdraw from the precincts of Parliament (SO 72 and 75 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Order to discontinue the speech (SO 73 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Order to withdraw, eventually with naming (SO 74 and 75 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Adjournment of Parliament/suspension of the sitting (SO 76 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Any other disciplinary measure (SO 77 (1), 78, and 84 (vi) and (viii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Deletion from the Official Report (SO 77 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (SO 72, 77, and 84 (viii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Breach of privilege in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (Part II and Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953, Art. 78 of the Standing Orders): imprisonment, fine; admonition at the Bar of Parliament, removal from the precincts of Parliament, suspension
· Competent body to judge such cases/to apply penalties:
- Call to order: the Speaker or any other Member
- Naming, suspension, and direction to withdraw from the precincts of Parliament, offence or insult: the Speaker; the Parliament; the Speaker
- Order to discontinue the speech, order to withdraw, eventually with naming, adjournment of Parliament/suspension of the sitting, deletion from the Official Report: the Speaker
- Any other disciplinary measure, offence or insult: the Parliament
- Breach of privilege in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House: the Supreme Court, the Parliament
· Procedure:
- Call to order (SO 84 (xii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Naming, suspension, and direction to withdraw from the precincts of Parliament, offence or insult (SO 72 and 75 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Order to discontinue the speech (SO 73 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Order to withdraw, eventually with naming (SO 74 and 75 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Adjournment of Parliament/suspension of the sitting (SO 76 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Any other disciplinary measure, offence or insult (SO 77 (1), 78, and 84 (vi) and (viii) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Deletion from the Official Report, offence or insult (SO 77 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka)
- Breach of privilege in cases of disobedience to rules or orders of the House (Part II and Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953, Art. 78 of the Standing Orders)
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist for Members of Parliament but there are some relevant provisions (Art. 66 (c) to (e), and (i), Art. 78, 81, 89 to 91, and 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution, Art. 78 of the Standing Orders, Part II and Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953; for the declaration of interests, see Obligation to declare personal assets).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of those rules:
- Loss of mandate (Art. 66 (c) to (e), and (i), Art. 78, 81, 89 to 91, and 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution; revocation before expiry of mandate by political parties/definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter for civic disability/disqualification, including incompatibilities)
- Imprisonment, fine; admonition at the Bar of Parliament, removal from the precincts of Parliament, suspension (Part II and Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953, Art. 78 of the Standing Orders)
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Loss of mandate: political parties; the Supreme Court/the Parliament;
- Imprisonment, fine; admonition at the Bar of Parliament, removal from the precincts of Parliament, suspension: the Supreme Court; the Parliament
· Procedure:
- Loss of mandate (Art. 66 (c) to (e), and (i), Art. 78, 81, 89 to 91, and 99 (13) (a) of the Constitution). In the case of revocation before expiry of mandate by political parties, MPs have means of recourse. In the case of definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter for civic disability, they do not.
- Imprisonment, fine; admonition at the Bar of Parliament, removal from the precincts of Parliament, suspension (Part II and Schedule to the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act, No. 21 of 1953, Art. 78 of the Standing Orders).
Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 3 February 2016
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