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Twelfth Parliament opens today

The inauguration of the Sri Lanka's 12th Parliament will take place today sans the customary ceremonial opening by the President. The first item on the agenda will be the election of the Speaker.

Gampaha district Parliamentarian Joseph Michael Perera has been put forward as the ruling United National Front's nominee for the post. According to reports, there will be no election of Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committees at today's inaugural meeting.

Sources said that the UNF had offered these posts to the PA in a gesture of conciliation.

The PA had so far not accepted the offer.

Following the election of the Speaker, speeches will be made by leaders from both sides congratulating him. Thereafter, Parliament will adjourn for the next date.

Inquiry into Ramazan Day killing

Minister of Interior John Amaratunge has agreed to order an impartial inquiry into the killing of two Muslim Youth at Samanturai on Ramazan Day December 16 as requested by Port Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister Rauf Hakeem said a Press release issued by the Ministry of Ports Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs yesterday.

While the inquests into the deaths of these two youth were under way, an unwarrante shooting and assault had taken place near the Samanthurai Hospital and Minister Hakeem had regretted the Interior Minister to probe this incident, too the release said.

Meanwhile, Minister Hakeem accompanied by Parliamentarian Anver Ismail was due to meet Minister Amaratunge and DIG (Police Special Task Force) Nimal Gunatilleke yesterday to discuss this matter further, the release added.

Minister Hakeem has also requested the people of Samanturai to remain calm and assist in maintaining law and order in the area without falling prey to the conspiracies hatched by saboteurs to disrupt the cordial relationship existing among the Police, the Special Task Force and the residents in the area.

Pensioners welcome new administration

The Pensioners Association of Kalutara District has welcomed the new government of the United National Party under the leadership of the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

President of the Association M. P. Perera said that the newly elected Government should solve the grievances of pensioners. They were agitate for decades, to solve their problems.

He also said that the people have reposed confidence in the leader of the UNP and expect that the ethnic war would come to an end and bring prosperity to the country.

He congratulated the newly elected Prime Minister on behalf of the pensioners of Kalutara district.

Shot dead

Mahinda Samarage, a 35 year old businessman in Horana was shot dead by an unidentified gunman.

The incident occurred on Friday December 14 night while he was travelling in a van accompanied by his wife to attend a wedding ceremony at Gatakossewa, a remote village in Horana electorate.

His wife who was occurred was rushed to the Horana hospital.

According to Ingiriya police investigating into the murder an earlier attempt to murder Samarage had failed. A T 56 weapon had been used in the crime.

Ingiriya police are investigating.

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