The Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 65 CHAPTER X THE LEGISLATURE Parliament 62. 48[(1) There shall be a Parliament which shall consist of two hundred and twenty-five Members elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.] Parliament 49 [(2) Unless Parliament is sooner dissolved, every Parliament shall continue for five years from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer, and the expiry of the said period of five years shall operate as a dissolution of Parliament.] 63. Except for the purpose of electing the Speaker, no Member shall sit or vote in parliament until he has taken and subscribed the following oath, or made and subscribed the following affirmation, before Parliament:– Official oath or affirmation solemnly declare and affirm “I …… do –––––––––––––––––– that I will uphold swear and defend the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.” 64. (1) Parliament shall, at its first meeting after a General Election, elect three Members to be respectively the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees (hereinafter referred to as the “Deputy Speaker”) and the Deputy Chairman of Committees thereof. Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees (2) A member holding office as the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker or the Deputy Chairman of Committees shall, unless he earlier resigns his office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President or ceases to be a Member, vacate his office on the dissolution of Parliament. 48 - Substituted by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 3. 49 - Substituted by the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution Sec. 15.