Parliament seeks to extend session by a week as important works pending

A week’s extension has been proposed ongoing parliamentary session as important works are pending.

While commencing Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla said the ongoing parliamentary session is set to conclude on next Friday as of present.

“Nevertheless, as there are important works pending in the current session, I am proposing to extend the session until August 21^st,” he added.

Speaker Abdul Raheem said the matter would be put to vote during the voting time at Tuesday’s sitting.

Parliamentary sessions have been extended on previous occasions as well in order to conclude pending works.

According to Parliament’s standing orders, the ongoing parliamentary session which commenced on June 1^st, is set to conclude on August 15^th.

There have been concerns over the failure to hold parliamentary sittings three times per week as dictated by the standing orders. In this regard, many sittings have been cancelled during the current session.

Opposition MDP members also voiced concern over the cancellations happening without proper justification.

Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla had explained then that the sittings were cancelled because there was no work scheduled on the floor, though he emphasised that committee work was still proceeding.

Notably, parliamentary sittings have been cut short as well, amidst lawmakers were requesting the opportunity to debate.