On November 15, 2024, Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP), led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, achieved a decisive victory in snap general elections, winning approximately 62% of the votes cast. This victory enables Dissanayake to pursue his agenda aimed at alleviating poverty in the economically distressed nation.
The NPP is projected to secure 52 seats in the 225-member parliament, a significant increase from the three seats held prior to the election. The main opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadasa, garnered 13 seats, while the New Democratic Front, backed by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, won two seats.
Voter turnout was reported at around 65%, lower than the nearly 80% participation seen in the presidential election held in September. Over 17 million citizens were eligible to vote, with a record 690 political parties and independent groups contesting across 22 districts.
Dissanayake's coalition victory comes in the wake of widespread public discontent with previous austerity measures imposed by the prior administration as part of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout agreement. The new president has expressed intentions to implement policies that prioritize welfare and address the needs of impoverished citizens.
This election marks a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka's political landscape, as Dissanayake seeks to establish a government capable of enacting significant reforms in a country grappling with its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948.