Sri Lanka, Jan. 5 -- The fourth session of the eighth Parliament was ceremonially inaugurated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Friday (January 3) in a very simple manner without the usual pomp and pageantry such as the ceremonial 21 - gun salute, motorcade, Military Police and Mounted Police escorts.

It was a solemn ceremony and this was indeed the first time that a newly elected President dispensed with the massive ceremonial procession avoiding unnecessary Government expenditure and setting a new example in Parliamentary history.

The President displayed his simplicity and approached the Parliament complex alone with just one front and one rear backup vehicle plus three motorcycles. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and First Lady Ioma Ra...