Chandima Subasinghe

Parliament of SL

The Parliament of Sri Lanka is a Unicameral 225 member legislature elected by universal suffrage and proportional representation for a six-year term. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws. The Speaker or, in his absence the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees or the Deputy Chairman of Committees, presides over Parliament. The nation's President has the power to summon, suspend, prorogue, or end a legislative session and to dissolve Parliament. The Parliament Secretariat consists of the Secretary General of Parliament, Deputy Secretary General of Parliament and the Assistant Secretary General of Parliament. There are 8 departments under the Parliament Secretariat viz. the Department of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Department of Administration, the Department of Legislative Services, the Department of Finance & Supplies, the Department of Hansard, the Department of Catering & Housekeeping, the Co-ordinating Engineer's Department and the Department of Information Systems and Management. The Staff Advisory Committee (SAC) established under the Parliamentary Staff Act provides advice and guidance to the Parliamentary Secretariat in respect of matters concerning the staff. The SAC consists of the Speaker (Chairman), the Leader of the House, the Minister of Finance and the Leader of the Opposition.