In a dramatic political shift, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leftist coalition, the National People’s Power (NPP), decisively won the snap parliamentary elections, securing at least 123 of the 225 seats after capturing about 62% of the vote, according to the election commission. The NPP, running under the compass symbol, is anticipated to gain a two-thirds majority by adding from the additional 29 seats reserved for national polling, pushing their total to around 150 seats.
The election was held one year ahead of schedule after President Dissanayake, who assumed office in September, dissolved the previous parliament. His coalition’s triumph is noted for winning the entire northern Jaffna district, traditionally dominated by Tamil nationalist parties. The NPP secured three out of six seats there, marking a historic win for a predominantly Sinhala party in this Tamil cultural enclave.
Dissanayake’s victory indicates a significant shift from establishment parties perceived as responsible for the 2022 economic crisis, the worst in Sri Lanka’s independent history, which led to severe shortages and political unrest. His administration promises to tackle corruption and recover stolen assets, following his recent electoral success in the September presidential election.
Despite a peaceful election process, voter turnout was just below 70%, mirroring the discontent seen in earlier presidential polls. The results underscore a societal embrace of NPP’s national integration message, suggesting an end to the divisive politics of the past, as articulated by Dissanayake. The new parliament is expected to convene next week in a landscape reshaped by these pivotal elections.
Original Story https://www.news18.com/world/sri-lanka-snap-elections-landslide-win-leftist-coalition-president-latest-news-9121396.html
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