Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka · 2023 Revised Edition · Chapter XI · The Legislature
70. Sessions of Parliament
Unofficial copy, with amendments up to 31 Oct 2022. Later amendments are not included. Check the official text before you rely on it.
Unofficial copyFrom Parliament of Sri Lanka, unchanged
53[(1) The President may, from time to time, by
Proclamation summon, prorogue and dissolve Parliament:
Provided that –
subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (d), the President shall not dissolve Parliament until the expiration of a period of not less than two years and six months from the date appointed for its first meeting, unless Parliament by resolution requests the President to dissolve Parliament;
the President shall not dissolve Parliament on the rejection of the Statement of Government
Policy at the commencement of the first session of Parliament after a General Election;
subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (d), the President shall not dissolve Parliament after the
Speaker has entertained a resolution complying with the requirements of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b)
of paragraph (2) of Article 38, unless –
such resolution is not passed as required by sub-paragraph (c) of paragraph (2) of
Article 38;
the Supreme Court determines and reports that the President has not become permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office or that the
President has not been guilty of any of the other allegations contained in such resolution;
53 - Substituted by the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 12.
the consequent resolution for the removal of the President is not passed as required by sub-paragraph (e) of paragraph (2) of Article 38; or
Parliament by resolution requests the
President to dissolve Parliament;
where the President has not dissolved Parliament consequent upon the rejection by Parliament of the Appropriation Bill, the President shall dissolve Parliament if Parliament rejects the next Appropriation Bill.]
Parliament shall be summoned to meet once at least in every year.
A Proclamation proroguing Parliament shall fix a date for the next session, not being more than two months after the date of the Proclamation:
Provided that at any time while Parliament stands prorogued the President may by Proclamation –
summon Parliament for an earlier date, not being less than three days from the date of such Proclamation; or
subject to the provisions of this Article, dissolve Parliament.
All matters which, having been duly brought before Parliament, have not been disposed of at the time of the prorogation of Parliament, may be proceeded with during the next session.
A Proclamation dissolving Parliament shall fix a date or dates for the election of Members of
Parliament, and shall summon the new Parliament to meet on a date not later than three months after the date of such
Proclamation.
Upon the dissolution of Parliament by virtue of the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 62, the
President shall forthwith by Proclamation fix a date or dates for the election of Members of Parliament, and shall summon the new Parliament to meet on a date not later than three months after the date of such Proclamation.
The date fixed for the first meeting of
Parliament by a Proclamation under sub-paragraph (a) or sub-paragraph (b) may be varied by a subsequent
Proclamation, provided that the date so fixed by the subsequent Proclamation shall be a date not later than three months after the date of the original Proclamation.
Where the poll for the election of the President is to be taken on a date which falls between the date of dissolution of Parliament and the date before which Parliament is required by paragraph (5) of this Article to be summoned to meet, Parliament shall, notwithstanding anything in that paragraph, be summoned to meet on a date not later than four months after the date of dissolution of Parliament.
If at any time after the dissolution of
Parliament, the President is satisfied that an emergency has arisen of such a nature that an earlier meeting of
Parliament is necessary, he may by Proclamation summon the Parliament which has been dissolved to meet on a date not less than three days from the date of such
Proclamation and such Parliament shall stand dissolved upon the termination of the emergency or the conclusion of the General Election, whichever is earlier.
Chapter XII
The Legislature
Chapter XIII
The Referendum
Chapter XIV
The Franchise and Elections
Chapter XIVA
Election Commission
Chapter XV
The Judiciary
Chapter XVA
Judicial Service Commission
Chapter XVI
The Superior Courts
Chapter XVII
Finance
Chapter XVIIA
146[CHAPTER XVII a
Chapter XVIII
Public Security
Chapter XVIIIA
National Police Commission
Chapter XIX
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
Chapter XIXA
Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption
Chapter XIXB
National Procurement Commission
Chapter XX
General
Chapter XXI
Transitional Provisions
Chapter XXII
Interpretation
Chapter XXIII
Repeal
Chapter XXIV