President Dissanayake's NPP Wins 159 Seats in Sri Lanka Election, Reappoints Amarasuriya as Prime Minister

Nov 18, 2024, 03:44 AM

Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) coalition, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, secured a historic victory in the parliamentary elections held on November 14, winning 159 out of 225 seats and achieving a two-thirds majority. The NPP's seat count surged from just three seats previously, receiving 61.5% of the vote in an unprecedented landslide under the country's proportional representation system. This left-leaning party's win signals a significant shift in Sri Lanka's political landscape, with traditional parties suffering major losses as voters buried established parties. The NPP also made inroads in the Tamil-dominated northern regions, a first in the nation's history. President Dissanayake, elected only two months ago, reappointed educationist Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as Prime Minister, who will also oversee the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The new cabinet was sworn in on November 18 at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo in the presence of President Dissanayake. Despite the overwhelming mandate, meeting election pledges is seen as a challenge for the President.