The inaugural session of the student Parliament of Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya Kadawata was held recently (19) at the Presidential Secretariat. It was chaired by Speaker Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff, Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General Mr. Chaminda Kularatne also presided over the event held.
Following the inaugural session of the Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya Kadawata Student Parliament, the members of the student Parliament had the opportunity to have a cordial meeting with President Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The President invited the students to where the Cabinet meetings are held and educated them regarding what the Cabinet is and its structure and function.
It is also significant that for the first time in history, school children had the opportunity to join a conversation with the President leading the Cabinet, where the main decisions of the country are taken. The President also explained the responsibilities of the ministerial positions and the responsibilities of the Cabinet to students holding ministerial positions in the student parliament. The President also explained the need for a generation of children who will become the future leaders of the country to have a thorough knowledge of the governance structure.
Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, Speaker addressing the first session of the Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya Kadawata Student Parliament stated that the Parliament is the foundation of a country’s democracy. Furthermore, the Speaker emphasized that a country without a Parliament is a country without democracy.
The Speaker pointed out that through the three pillars of democracy namely the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary a program for the development of a country can be prepared and emphasized that neither the judiciary nor the executive can function without the Legislature.
Recalling that the future of the world depends on the youth community, the Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera emphasized the importance of being aware of the Parliamentary process from a young age and gave a full explanation on how the Parliament works. Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament, addressed the concerns raised by the children of the Student Parliament and provided awareness regarding the Parliamentary process and other related issues.
Inaugurating the first session of the Student Parliament, the Speaker was elected and sworn in, then the Prime Minister, Ministers and other Members of Parliament were sworn in. In conjunction with this event, the pinning of official badges and the presentation of certificates to student Parliamentarians was carried out by Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff, Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General Mr. Chaminda Kularatne.
The Parliament of Sri Lanka also gifted books to Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya Kadawata and Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya also presented the Communication Department of the Parliament of Sri Lanka with a token for its contribution towards the establishment of the Student Parliament.
Major Nadika Dangolla, Assistant Director of the Presidential Secretariat, officials of the Communications Department of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, the Principal of Kadawata and Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya Kadawaha, Mrs. W.R. Priyadarshani, Deputy Principal, Teachers of the school were present at this program organized by the Communications Department of the Parliament of Sri Lanka together with the Presidential Secretariat.