President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Marxist-leaning National People’s Power (NPP) coalition secured a historic landslide victory in Thursday’s snap parliamentary elections, winning 159 out of 225 seats, Al Jazeera reports.
This unprecedented two-thirds majority grants Dissanayake unfettered control over parliament, allowing him to push through sweeping reforms, including a promised constitutional overhaul.
The win marks the first time since 1977 that a single party has achieved a clear majority in Sri Lanka’s parliament under its proportional representation system. It also gives Dissanayake the power to pass legislation without needing coalition partners.
On Monday, Dissanayake reappointed Harini Amarasuriya as Prime Minister. Amarasuriya, 54, will also retain the portfolios of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training. Her reappointment, broadcast live during the swearing-in ceremony of the new 21-member cabinet, makes her the first woman to head the national government in 24 years.
Other key cabinet appointments include veteran legislator Vijitha Herath as Foreign Minister, Ananda Wijepala as Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, and Bimal Rathnayake as Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister. Dissanayake retained the Defence and Finance portfolios himself.
The NPP’s victory comes as Sri Lanka struggles to recover from its worst economic crisis in history. A severe foreign currency shortage triggered a sovereign default, shrinking the economy by 7.3 percent in 2022 and 2.3 percent in 2023. The country is currently undertaking a $2.9 billion IMF bailout program. An IMF delegation is currently in Sri Lanka for a week-long visit to discuss the program with the new government.
Addressing the nation at the swearing-in ceremony, Dissanayake acknowledged the immense power his party now wields. “We must ensure that this absolute power does not corrupt us absolutely,” he stated. “This huge power must be exercised responsibly, to fulfil the aspirations of the people who have been oppressed economically and politically for too long.”
The new government’s first parliamentary sitting is scheduled for Thursday. A key priority will be preparing the 2025 budget in line with the ongoing IMF program. The NPP’s campaign promise of a referendum on a new constitution is also expected to feature prominently in the government’s agenda. The main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadasa, secured only 40 seats.
