The 16th Parliamentary term spanned four years, one month, and four days, beginning with the inaugural session on 20 August 2020, until its dissolution. During this period, the Parliament convened for 390 days across five sessions. Significant events during the 16th Parliamentary term included constitutional amendments, the election of a successor President through a Parliamentary vote, the submission of no-confidence motions (NCMs), the removal of a Commission Chairperson/Member through a resolution, and the suspension of the service of Parliamentarians due to disciplinary actions.

Constitutional amendments

In September 2020, the then Minister of Justice, President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry, presented the ‘20th Constitutional Amendment’ Bill to the Parliament. The Bill was passed with a special majority, and was approved with amendments. On 29 October 2020, following the then Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana’s assent, the 20th Constitutional Amendment was officially enacted. In 2022, following the resignation of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to the prevailing crisis, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was appointed as the eighth Executive President, formed a new Cabinet of Ministers, and as part of this, the then Minister of Justice and Constitutional Reforms, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe PC, introduced the ‘22nd Constitutional Amendment’ Bill to the Parliament in August. The Bill was passed as the ‘21st Constitutional Amendment’ and on 31 October 2022, following the then Speaker’s assent, the 21st Constitutional Amendment was officially enacted.

NCMs & removal through Resolution

The NCM against the then Minister of Power Udaya Gammanpila was submitted by 43 Members of the Opposition. The debate on this NCM took place in July, 2021, and during the subsequent vote, the NCM was defeated. The resolution for the removal of J.D.B.M.J.P.K. Ratnayake from Membership of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), as per the provisions of the PUCSL Act No. 35 of 2002, was presented by the then Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The debate on this resolution took place in May 2023 (last year), during which the NCM was passed with a majority of 46 votes. The NCM against the then Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella was presented by 45 Members of the Opposition. The debate on this NCM took place in September, 2023, and during the subsequent vote, the NCM was defeated by a majority of 40 votes. In March, the then Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, along with 45 Members representing the Main Opposition (the Samagi Jana Balawegaya), presented an NCM against the then Speaker Abeywardana. The debate on this NCM took place in March and during the subsequent vote, the NCM was defeated by a majority of 42 votes. 

Electing an MP to fill the vacant Exec. Presidency 

Amid the political crisis in the country, Rajapaksa resigned from the Presidency on 14 July 2022. Consequently, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, an MP was elected to fill the vacant position. Until then, the then Premier Wickremesinghe, served as the Acting President. In this context, in terms of the Presidential Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 2 of 1981, the Parliament convened on 19 July to conduct the Election. During this session, Wickremesinghe, and then MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake were nominated to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Rajapaksa. Accordingly, for the first time in Parliamentary history, a vote was held in the Parliament to elect a President on 20 July. During this voting, Wickremesinghe was elected as the eighth Executive President of the country by a majority. In this secret ballot, Wickremesinghe received 134 votes, while Alahapperuma received 82 votes and Anura Dissanayake received three votes.

Suspensions of the service term of MPs 

On 23 August 2023, due to a contentious situation that arose from raising supplementary questions related to questions for oral answers in the Parliament, then MPs Nalin Bandara Jayamaha and Wasantha Yapabandara, caused a clamour. Given the situation, the then Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse temporarily suspended the Parliamentary session for 10 minutes. Thereafter, the then Speaker Abeywardana, who took the Chair, suspended Jayamaha and Yapabandara from the proceedings of that day. Furthermore, on 19 October 2023, in light of a chaotic situation that arose during the questions for oral answers in the Parliament, the then Speaker Abeywardana, announced that the service term of then MP Ajith Mannapperuma, would be suspended for four weeks with effect from that day. This action was taken as touching the mace while placed in the bracket of the Chamber is considered a serious disciplinary violation under Standing Order 77(3). Meanwhile, on 20 October 2023, due to an incident reported to have occurred between the then MPs Diana Gamage, K. Sujith Sanjaya Perera and Rohana Bandara, their service term was suspended for one month, effective from 2 December 2023, by way of a motion moved in the Parliament. This motion was presented to the Parliament on 2 December 2023, based on the recommendations made to the Parliament after the matter was considered by the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. Additionally, on 23 May 2023, the then MP Ali Sabri Raheem was involved in an incident related to smuggling gold and mobile phones worth more than Rs. 70 million into the country through the Very Important Person Terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport at  Katunayake. Based on the recommendations of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, his Parliamentary service was suspended for a month. The suspension was implemented through a motion in the Parliament, citing his misconduct, which was deemed to violate the privileges of the Parliament and the MPs, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 118, effective from 6 March, for a duration of one month.