Sri Lanka Votes in Snap Parliamentary Elections Amid Divided Opposition, Results Expected Friday
Colombo: Sri Lanka goes to the polls on Thursday for a snap parliamentary election, marking the country’s second national vote in just a few months. The opposition remains fragmented after its heavy loss in the presidential election, where Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the island nation’s first leftist leader, emerged victorious.
Dissanayake called for this early parliamentary election after his win, promising to tackle corruption and recover the nation’s stolen assets. His party is expected to dominate Thursday’s vote, as analysts predict the opposition is too disorganized to mount a strong challenge.
The newly elected president is aiming for a two-thirds majority in the 225-member legislature to push forward with reforms, following Sri Lanka’s severe economic crisis in 2022, which led to the ousting of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Polling for the 17.1 million eligible voters began at 7:00 am local time (0130 GMT) on Thursday and will conclude at 4:00 pm, with results expected to be announced by Friday. A total of 8,800 candidates are contesting for seats.
Dissanayake’s party, the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), which leads the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, is striving to form the next government. The NPP currently holds just three seats in the outgoing assembly. Dissanayake, a former member of parliament for nearly 25 years, aims to distance himself from the traditional political figures who contributed to Sri Lanka’s economic collapse.
Despite his earlier promise to renegotiate a $2.9 billion bailout loan secured by his predecessor, Dissanayake has decided to maintain the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has expressed tacit support for Dissanayake, hopeful that his reforms will lead to sustainable economic growth.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who had campaigned for a coalition government, has vowed to push Dissanayake to honor his promises of tax cuts. However, political analysts believe the election is largely a foregone conclusion due to the opposition’s lack of cohesion and campaigning.
Political analyst Kusal Perera remarked that there has been minimal campaigning from opposition parties, suggesting that the election’s outcome is nearly certain. Additionally, many prominent politicians from the previous administration have opted to sit out this election, contributing to the overall lack of enthusiasm.
Sri Lanka’s outgoing parliament, previously dominated by the party of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, has fractured, with Rajapaksa’s son Namal Rajapaksa, a former sports minister, seeking re-election.
