Sri Lanka's Dissanayake Coalition Wins Snap Election

Sri Lanka's Dissanayake Coalition Wins Snap Election
  • Sri Lanka held snap general elections on Thursday.
  • President Dissanayake's coalition won a landslide victory.
  • The new parliament will convene on November 21.

Sri Lanka recently held snap general elections on Thursday, August 31, 2023, with results being declared on Friday. The election saw a significant shift in power as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's coalition, the National People's Party (NPP), secured a landslide victory, winning a two-thirds majority in the 225-member parliament. This marked a dramatic change from the NPP's previous position, holding only three seats in the preceding parliament.

Dissanayake, a Marxist-leaning leader who campaigned on a platform of change, had dissolved parliament on September 24 to pave the way for these elections. This move was crucial for Dissanayake, as his party needed a fresh mandate to implement its policies and effectively govern. The elections were held just days after Dissanayake's election as president, highlighting the immediate need to establish a strong parliamentary presence for his administration.

The process of electing the 225 members of parliament for a five-year term involved over 17.1 million eligible voters participating in the elections. Among these, approximately 1 million voters were first-time participants, according to the Sri Lankan Election Commission. The election process employed a proportional representation system, with 196 members directly elected from 22 constituencies. The remaining 29 seats were allocated based on the island-wide proportional votes garnered by each party.

Voters had the option of casting up to three preferential votes for candidates from their preferred party, showcasing the complexity and nuance of the election system. The voting process took place at thousands of polling stations across the country under strict security measures. The counting of votes was conducted by government employees, supervised by Election Commission officials, election monitors, and representatives of candidates.

The Election Commission officially announced the winning party on Friday, just 14 hours after the polls closed, signifying a swift and efficient election process. Following this announcement, the formation of a new cabinet was expected, with the inaugural session of the new parliament scheduled for November 21. On this day, President Dissanayake will deliver a throne speech outlining his key policy priorities to the newly elected parliament, setting the stage for his administration's agenda.

Source: How Sri Lanka elects its Parliament and why Dissanayake called for snap elections

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