Chamal Rajapaksa is new Speaker

Inaugural session of the 14th Parliament began this morning (22 April).
Former Minister of Ports and Aviation, Chamal Rajapaksa was unanimously elected as the Speaker at the inaugural session.
The 225 newly elected Members of Parliament were sworn in before the Speaker.

The 13th Parliament was dissolved by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on February 9, 2010 and General Elections were held on April 8.

Today’s session is limited to the swearing in by the new MPs, election of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees.

UPFA obtained 127 District basis seats along with 17 National basis
seats; a total of 144 seats in parliament which is only 6 seats short
of its target of a two-thirds majority (150 seats out of 225). It has
obtained a total of 4,846,386 votes (60.33 %) island wide.

The UNP obtained a total of 60 seats which comprise 51 on District
basis and 9 on National basis. ITAK and Democratic National Alliance
have a total of 14 and 7 seats respectively.

- The PRIU