by Franklin R. Satyapalan
The twelfth parliament opens today. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to make a policy statement and spell out his priorities for the first 100 days.

The election of the Speaker will be the first event in the agenda when Parliament meets today. UNP Gampaha district MP Joseph Michael Perera is expected to be elected speaker without contest. The new Speaker will then call for the election of a Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Kitulegoda said yesterday.

The PM is expected to inform the House of his intended visit to India and what it entails. He is expected to meet Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Home Affairs Minister L. K. Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandez and Opposition Leader Mrs. Sonia Gandhi among others.

His speech will be followed by an address by Opposition Leader Ratnasiri Wickramanayake. The party leaders will meet thereafter and determine a date for the next meeting of Parliament.