Colombo, October 3, 2024 – In a unique move, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena is organizing a farewell party at the Parliament premises, set to take place on October 9. This event, which will include a general meeting for the parliamentary staff followed by a luncheon, is reportedly a first in Sri Lankan parliamentary history.
The farewell event is said to be a proposal from the heads of various parliamentary departments, making it an extraordinary gesture as no previous speaker has ever hosted such a ceremony before. While the details of the occasion remain largely ceremonial, it is a notable departure from the usual farewell protocols for outgoing officials.
This farewell comes at a time when the political landscape is shifting ahead of upcoming elections, and the event is expected to gather many from the Parliament to bid farewell to the speaker in style.
