Thai PM to address the House

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra who will arrive in Sri Lanka on May 30 for an official tour is scheduled to address Sri Lanka's Parliament on May 31 at 2.45 p.m.

On the instructions of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, a welcome ceremony is being organised while a special seat for Premier Shinawatra would be set up in the Chamber near the Speaker's chair.

According to Parliament sources, the Thai Premier is going to be the third female State Leader to address Sri Lanka's Parliament. Earlier, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had addressed Parliament during official visits.

Religious dignitaries, the Chief Justice, legal luminaries and diplomatic corps would also grace the event. Special security arrangements will be in place in and around the Parliament complex. Meanwhile, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva are scheduled to address the House on that day, sources said.

The Speaker has requested all MPs to be present in Parliament when Thailand Prime Minister addresses the House on May 31.

The request from the Speaker was read to the House by Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody last Wednesday. Special traffic arrangements would be in place on that day by the City Traffic Police and nearby police stations, the Deputy Speaker said.