Sri Lanka Parliamentary Election: Voting started on Thursday to elect 225 members of Parliament in Sri Lanka. In this election, the country’s President Anura Kumar Dissanayake is making full efforts to gain majority. President Dissanayake of the new government formed after the government became unstable after the economic crisis in the country, along with the demand for a new political culture free from misuse of money. They are working very hard to get absolute majority in the Parliament also.
This election is the first major test of the National People’s Power, the ruling party led by President Dissanayake. In this election, Samagi Jana Sandanya led by Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka Podujana Party of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, New Democratic Front made up of breakaway MLAs supporting former President Ranil Wickremesinghe and minority parties of the North are demanding seats.
Ranil Wickremesinghe is not contesting elections for the first time since 1977.
For the first time since 1977, outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe is not contesting parliamentary elections. He lost to Dissanayake in the presidential elections held last month. All the Rajapaksa brothers (including Mahinda, Gotabaya, Chamal and Basil) are not contesting parliamentary elections after decades. Many ministers and deputy ministers of the previous government have opted out of this race.
‘Demand raised for strong mandate’
President Dissanayake has sought a strong mandate from Parliament to end corruption and punish those former leaders. These are those corrupt leaders whose allegations of misusing public funds have been proven. Dissanayake was elected on 21 September. In these elections, 196 members will be elected through voting in 22 electoral districts and 29 members will be elected through the national list. This will be based on the total number of votes received by political parties and independent groups in the election.
,Need for change in the Constitution’
According to Al Jazeera’s report, President Dissanayake has said that most of the power of the country rests with the Executive President. He has entered the field to reduce this power. For this they will need to make changes in the constitution. For this work they need two-thirds of the seats. He is appealing to the public to win this many seats.
Dissanayake’s party can win
According to local media of Sri Lanka, Dissanayake’s alliance can get majority in the parliamentary elections also after the huge victory in the presidential elections. Sajith Premadasa’s party SJB may remain at second position. According to the information, the result may come 1 or 2 days after the end of voting. In 2020, the results came two days after voting took place.