LNP - Sri Lanka’s General Election on November 14 Sri Lanka’s General Election on November 14

The President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification today (24) announcing the dissolution of the Parliament, effective from midnight. The Gazette, published by the Department of Government Printing, also summoned the new Parliament to convene on November 21, 2024. The election for new Members of Parliament is scheduled for November 14, 2024. The nomination period for the election will begin on October 4 and end at 12 noon on October 11, 2024, during which nomination papers will be received by the Returning Officers.

The Gazette notification was issued under the authority granted by Article 70 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and in accordance with Section 10 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) and the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance, achieved a landslide victory in the recent election, securing over 5.6 million votes (42.3% of the total), defeating 38 other candidates.

During his election campaign, Dissanayake promised to dissolve Parliament if he won, and he has kept that promise by calling for snap elections. The current Parliament’s five-year term ends in August next year. Dissanayake’s party, the JVP, had only three seats in Sri Lanka’s 225-member Parliament. He was sworn into office on Monday, and appointed Harini Amarasuriya, an academic and first-time lawmaker, as the new prime minister on Tuesday. Amarasuriya becomes the third woman to hold the office of Prime Minister in Sri Lanka.

Additionally, President Dissanayake formed a three-member Cabinet, which includes NPP’s Vijitha Herath, Amarasuriya, and himself. This Cabinet will serve as a caretaker government until the elections are held.

President Dissanayake is expected to address the nation with a special statement at 7:30 PM tomorrow (25 September), according to the Department of Government Information.