November 14, 2024
2 mins read

Polls Open in Sri Lanka’s Key Parliamentary Election

This would be the first major test of the popularity of the ruling party, National People’s Power, led by President Dissanayake…reports Asian Lite News

Voting in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary poll started on Thursday to elect 225 members to the Parliament with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeking a majority.

President Dissanayake is seeking a majority to govern the sovereign debt-defaulted nation amid calls for a new political culture without corruption and misappropriation of public funds.

This would be the first major test of the popularity of the ruling party, National People’s Power, led by President Dissanayake

Samagi Jana Sandanaya led by Sajith Premadasa, the Sri Lanka Podujana Party of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the New Democratic Front made up breakaway legislators backing former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and minority parties in the North are seeking seats.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the outgoing President who lost to Dissanayake in last month’s presidential election, is not contesting a parliamentary election for the first time since 1977.

The Rajapaksa brothers — Mahinda, Gotabaya, Chamal, and Basil — will not contest the parliamentary election after decades-long representation.

Scores of ministers and deputies from the past regime have opted out of the race.

President Dissanayake, who was elected on September 21, has called for a strong Parliament mandate for him to eliminate corruption and punish the past leaders who would be proven to have misappropriated public funds.

The polls will see the election of 196 members through voting in 22 electoral districts and 29 members through the national list, according to the number of total votes political parties and independent groups get in the election.

The voting started at 7 a.m. local time and will go until 4 p.m. More than 17.1 million voters are eligible to cast their votes.

The new Parliament will be convened on November 21.

The elected parliamentarians are expected to be declared by November 15 (Friday) if the counting process goes smoothly, Election Commission officials have said.

This will be the first parliamentary election since Sri Lanka plunged into an economic crisis when the island nation declared sovereign default in mid-April 2022, its first since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. Almost civil-war-like conditions and months of public protests led to the fleeing of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

ALSO READ: Balochistan Raids Ignite Tensions

Previous Story

Balochistan Raids Ignite Tensions

Next Story

‘Saudi Arabia Key to West Asia Stability’ 

Latest from -Top News

UK reimposes UN sanctions on Iran

London triggers snapback mechanism with France and Germany, restoring strict UN measures targeting Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes…reports Asian Lite News The United Kingdom has reinstated sweeping United Nations sanctions on Iran,

Wedding Set Free

Government unveils sweeping marriage law reforms to modernise ceremonies, boost inclusivity and deliver a £535m lift to the economy…reports Asian Lite News In what is being billed as the biggest shake-up of

UK Govt announces major AI plans at G20

Britain partners with Canada, Google and African institutions to drive safe, inclusive and locally grounded artificial intelligence…reports Asian Lite News The government has unveiled a series of new projects to support responsible

UK announces $36 mn support Rohingya refugees

Britain pledges fresh support for Myanmar’s displaced as UN warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in Rakhine and refugee camps in Bangladesh…reports Asian Lite News The United Kingdom has pledged an additional $36

Storm Amy upgraded to amber warning

Met Office issues amber warning as Scotland braces for power cuts, flooding and major travel disruption…reports Asian Lite News Scotland is bracing itself for the full force of Storm Amy after the
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Lanka Backs India’s Bold Stand Against US Tariffs, Calls It an Inspiration for Asia

Lankan MP has urged his countrymen to back New Delhi’s

Lanka slashes fuel prices

Sri Lanka increased fuel prices by over 200 per cent