• Notes that Prez need not consult him to decide same
• NPP concerned about risk of dissolving on 21st Sept.

The Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said that he is not aware of any imminent plans to dissolve the Parliament, adding however that the President is also not obligated to consult him when making such a decision.

Speculation has been there to the effect that President and independent Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe may dissolve the Parliament on 20 or 21 September, in an alleged attempt to disrupt the programme of the President elect.

When queried by The Daily Morning as to whether he has come to know about any preparation to dissolve the Parliament, Abeywardana said: "No, I don't know about any such preparation." He also said that even if the President intends to do so, he (President) is not obliged to consult him (Speaker) in making the decision.

The Daily Morning reached out via WhatsApp to the President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake, the President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, and the President’s Media Director Dhanushka Ramanayake to inquire about any plans to dissolve the Parliament in the near future, but received no response.

Speaking to the media recently, President's Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma of the National People's Power, claimed that dissolving the Parliament on 21 September, before the Presidential Election's results are announced, could negatively affect the country. Emphasising the need for a peaceful transition of power, he cautioned that while the Constitution grants the President the authority to dissolve the Parliament, doing so during the Election could worsen the nation's challenges and create further issues for citizens.