The Sri Lankan Parliament, which was dissolved earlier was, re-convened for a day today to approved the Government motion validating the proclamation signed by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa extending the emergency laws by another month.<br/><br/>Mr. Rajapaksa had invoked powers conferred on him under the Executive Presidency to extend life of the emergency laws. The validity of the emergency regulations extended by the Parliament which was dissolved on February 10, in the run up to the general election scheduled on April 8, expired on March 1.<br/><br/>Under the Constitution of Sri Lanka, emergency laws could be passed only by the Parliament and they are valid only for a period of one month. Any Presidential proclamation extending the emergency laws is subject to approval by the Parliament,<br/> At today’s vote the state of emergency was passed with a majority of 93 votes in support and 24 against. The Janatha Vimukthi Perumana, the main opposition, United National Party (UNP) and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) voted against the extension of emergency.<br/><br/>Emergency laws in the island nation were re-imposed after the assassination of the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar by suspected cadres of the LTTE in the first half of August 2005. Since then the emergency laws and regulations have been extended by the Parliament on a monthly basis.<br/><br/>Indications are the Parliament might have to meet once again before the scheduled date of April 22 if the Government is of the view that letting the emergency laws lapse even for a few days could be detrimental to the interests of the island nation.<br/>