<span style="color: #222222;">In Sri Lanka, the first sitting of the new parliament began today after the elections held early this month with Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena getting elected as the new speaker of parliament. He was nominated to the position by the Leader of the house and foreign minister Dinesh Gunawardena while MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara seconded the proposal. All the new MPs later took their oaths before the new speaker.  <br />''<br />''The new speaker subsequently announced that he recognizes the leader of Samagi Jaba Balawegaya  (SJB) as leader of the opposition. The ruling party has secured two-thirds majority at the elections while SJB has secured 54 seats. The parliamentary proceedings have been temporarily suspended until afternoon when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will present the government's policy statement to the House.</span><br />