1.
L.S. PARLIAMENT BUILDING IN COLOMBO
3 ft

2.
VIPs ARRIVING - CHINESE AMBASSADOR
5 1/2 ft

3.
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR
8 ft

4.
GUARD OF HONOUR - IN THE BACKGROUND IS THE STATUE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER D.S. SENANAIKE
9 1/2 ft

5.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SIR CYRIL ZOYSA (IN RED CLOAK) AND OTHER SENATORS GOING TO THE CHAMBER
12 ft

6.
- DO -
17 ft

7.
GIRL GUIDES
18 1/2 ft

8.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL SIR OLIVER GOONETILLEKE'S CAR APPROACHING
21 ft

9.
CANON FIRING SALUTE
22 1/2 ft

10.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL STEPS OUT OF THE CAR
26 ft

11.
BAND
27 1/2 ft

12.
GOVERNOR-GENERAL BEING ESCORTED UP BY THE SERJEANT-AT-ARMS
31 ft

13.
BOY SCOUTS
33 ft

14.
VIPs GOING TO THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER
36 ft



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS AND LABOUR UNREST IN CEYLON, THE CEREMONIAL OPENING OF THE PARLIAMENT IN COLOMBO ON JUNE 30TH CREATED WIDE INTEREST.

AMONG THE VIPs ATTENDING THE OPENING WERE THE CHINESE AND russian AMBASSADORS IN CEYLON.

A GUARD OF HONOUR PRESENTED BY THE CEYLON ARMY STOOD TO ATTENTION NEAR THE STATUE OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER D.S. SENANAIKE.

THIS WAS THE FIRST MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT AFTER PRIME MINISTER SOLOMON BANDARANAIKE RESHUFFLED HIS CABINET LAST MONTH FOLLOWING THE RESIGNATION BY HIS LEFTIST MINISTERS.

OPPOSITION HAS CHARGED THAT IT IS A "MINORITY GOVERNMENT" WITH ONLY 44 ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE 101-MEMBER HOUSE IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT APPARENTLY HOPED TO CARRY ON WITH THE SUPPORT OF SIX NOMINATED MEMBERS.

AS THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL SIR OLIVER GOONETILLEKE WAS ARRIVING FOR THE CEREMONIAL OPENING, A SALUTE WAS FIRED IN HIS HONOUR.

SIR GOONETILLEKE, DRESSED IN THE COLONIAL UNIFORM OF WHITE SUIT AND PLUMED HAT, INSPECTED THE GUARD OF HONOUR.

SIR GOONETILLEKE, DRESSED IN THE COLONIAL UNIFORM OF WHITE SUIT AND PLUMED HAT, INSPECTED THE GUARD OF HONOUR.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL THEN CLIMBED UP THE PARLIAMENT CHAMBER TO OPEN THE PARLIAMENT.

(NOT IN PICTURE) THE OPPOSITION TROJSKYIST LANKA SAMA SAMAJ PARTY WALKED OUT DURING THE OPENING SAYING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF MR. SOLOMON BANDARANAIKE HAD NO MORAL RIGHT TO CONTINUE ON OFFICE IN VIEW OF THE LACK OF A CLEAR MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.