Determining the tasks of the ruling party in Parliament is assigned to the Leader of the House of Parliament, who is a leading figure in the Government as well as in Parliament. It is his duty to prepare the business of the government in the House, especially the legislative programme. He is also a senior cabinet minister. An order appointing a senior member of the Cabinet of Ministers as Leader of the House is issued by the Prime Minister. It is notified to the Hon. Speaker and the Hon. Speaker is made a formal announcement in Parliament in this regard.
The importance of the Leader of the House depends on the influence he makes on the business of Parliament. He is the person who sets the dates for government businesses to be done and decides what should be the priority of such businesses.
The Leader of the House, who is a member of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, also proposes a temporary programme for the week in which Parliament convenes. The business of the government takes precedence over every other day of the week, except on the Friday of the week which holds the first meeting of each month. After the Leader of the House prepares the temporary schedule for the week, he notifies that to the Committee on Parliamentary Business, chaired by the Speaker, for the consent. Once the consent is reached, the whips of the ruling party and the opposition inform the programme in advance to the members of their party.
At the beginning of each day's proceedings, he is the one usually makes proposals for proceedings and adjournments. He is a very senior member of Parliament and is well versed in the practice and procedure of the House. He is always ready to advise the Speaker on behalf of the Government. He is usually in the chamber every time when the House meets, especially when hears oral questions, and enjoys the right to address the House under his direction. Traditionally, the Leader of the House is usually consulted on a matter, especially when there is a strong parliamentary influence on both sides. The Leader of the House of Parliament is the spokesperson as well as the representative of the whole House in his day to day duties.
As he is the inter-connector between the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers, he is the one who has to keep a constant attention on the matters that have strongly addressed by the Parliament and report all relevant matters to the Government.
He is also a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee and nominates members of the ruling party to all committees. He also nominates members of the ruling party who attend various parliamentary conferences, tours, etc held in foreign countries.
He is officially a member of the Standing Orders Committee as well as the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee.
In the history of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, eminent Members of Parliament have held this prestigious position and many of them have also held the office of the Prime Minister.
