A special party leaders’ meeting will take place this morning to arrive at a decision pertaining to holding Parliamentary sittings this week.
Serjeant-at-arms Narendra Fernando informed NewsRadio that the meeting will begin at 11am.
A number of Members of Parliament and staff members have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent days.
Accordingly, a decision will be taken at today’s meeting about holding Parliament sittings as planned.
It was previously decided Parliament will convene for four days this week from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the opposition has decided to make a request to suspend this week’s Parliamentary sittings due to the prevailing coronavirus situation.
Speaking to NewsRadio, Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake said the novel coronavirus is spreading rapidly within the community at present.
MP Attanayake noted that the government must place the country under some sort of a lockdown to change the trend.
He said therefore they will urge the Speaker to also suspend the Parliament sittings scheduled for this week.
Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake noted that the move is necessary since several staff members have contracted COVID-19 in addition to Parliamentarians.
He said it will also set an example to the public.
