COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — On Thursday, Sri Lankans cast their votes in a parliamentary election crucial for the newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who aims to strengthen his party’s influence and fulfill promises regarding the nation’s economic revival.
Dissanayake secured the presidency on September 21, marking a significant shift away from the established political parties that have dominated Sri Lankan politics since the country gained independence from British colonial rule in 1948.
Despite his victory, the fact that Dissanayake did not attain more than 50% of the votes has raised doubts about the future prospects of his National People’s Power (NPP) party in this election.
To gain control of the 225-member Parliament, the NPP needs to substantially boost its share of votes beyond the 42% it garnered in the presidential elections, aiming for at least 113 seats.
One of the primary hurdles facing the NPP, which was established in 2019, lies in the inexperience of many of its candidates, who are up against seasoned politicians from traditional parties.
Out of the 225 seats in Parliament, 196 are being contested under Sri Lanka’s proportional representation system, which distributes seats among parties based on the percentage of votes they receive in their districts.
The remaining 29 seats, known as national list seats, are assigned to parties and independent groups based on their overall vote count nationwide.
This election features a total of 8,821 candidates from various political entities and independent groups vying for the 196 parliamentary spots.
Sajith Premadasa, who placed second in the presidential election, represents the main opposition to the NPP with his Samagi Jana Balawegaya, or United People’s Power party.
The timing of this election is particularly significant as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with the aftermath of a severe economic crisis, having declared bankruptcy following a default on its external debts in 2022.
Votes are expected to be counted and results announced on Friday, marking a pivotal moment for the future political landscape of Sri Lanka.