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17th Parliament of Sri Lanka

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17th Parliament of Sri Lanka
16th 18th
Overview
Legislative bodyParliament of Sri Lanka
Meeting placeSri Lankan Parliament Building
Term21 November 2024 (2024-11-21) –
Election14 November 2024
Websiteparliament.lk
Parliamentarians
Members225
SpeakerAshoka Ranwala (NPP)
Deputy Speaker and
Chairman of Committees
Rizvie Salih (NPP)
Deputy Chairperson of CommitteesHemali Weerasekara (NPP)
Prime MinisterHarini Amarasuriya (NPP)
Leader of the OppositionSajith Premadasa (SJB)
Leader of the HouseBimal Rathnayake (NPP)
Chief Government WhipNalinda Jayatissa (NPP)
Chief Opposition WhipTBD (TBD)
Structure
Sessions
1st21 November 2024 (2024-11-21) –  ()

The 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka (10th Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) is the current Parliament of Sri Lanka, with its membership determined by the results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 14 November 2024.[1][2] The parliament met for the first time on 21 November 2024.[3]

Under the provisions of the Constitution and the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, the Sri Lankan Parliament has a five-year term. However, the President of Sri Lanka may dissolve it after two years and six months from its first sitting or upon receiving a resolution from parliament.[4]

Timeline

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Key dates
Date Day Event Ref.
21 September 2024 Saturday Anura Kumara Dissanayake is elected as president at the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election. [5][6]
24 September 2024 Tuesday President Dissanayake dissolved the 16th parliament and called for a parliamentary election. [1][2]
14 November 2024 Thursday Election day. [2]
21 November 2024 Thursday First meeting of the 17th parliament at 10:00 SLST.
Formal election of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees.
Swearing in of the elected members.
Presentation of the goverment's policy statement by the President at 11:30.
[3][7]

Recent changes in seat allocations

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Registered electors and seat allocation changes: 2020 to 2024[8][9][10]
Provinces Districts Registered electors Number of allocated seats
2020 2024 2020 2024 Change
(+/-)
Western Colombo 1,709,209 1,765,351 19 18 Decrease1
Gampaha 1,785,964 1,881,129 18 19 Increase1
Kalutara 972,319 1,024,244 10 11 Increase1
Central Kandy 1,129,100 1,191,399 12 12 Steady
Matale 407,569 429,991 5 5 Steady
Nuwara Eliya 577,717 605,292 8 8 Steady
Southern Galle 867,709 903,163 9 9 Steady
Matara 659,587 686,175 7 7 Steady
Hambantota 493,192 520,940 7 7 Steady
Northern Jaffna 571,848 593,187 7 6 Decrease1
Vanni 287,024 306,081 6 6 Steady
Eastern Batticaloa 409,808 449,686 5 5 Steady
Ampara 513,979 555,432 7 7 Steady
Trincomalee 288,868 315,925 4 4 Steady
North Western Kurunegala 1,348,787 1,417,226 15 15 Steady
Puttalam 614,374 663,673 8 8 Steady
North Central Anuradhapura 693,634 741,862 9 9 Steady
Polonnaruwa 331,109 351,302 5 5 Steady
Uva Badulla 668,166 705,772 9 9 Steady
Monaragala 372,155 399,166 6 6 Steady
Sabaragamuwa Ratnapura 877,582 923,736 11 11 Steady
Kegalle 684,189 709,622 9 9 Steady
National List 29 29 Steady
Total 16,263,885 17,140,354 225 225 Steady

Election

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Results by polling division

The National People's Power (NPP) secured a historic landslide victory in the parliamentary election, winning 61.65% of the popular vote and a supermajority of 159 seats—the largest number ever won by a single party in Sri Lanka's history. The NPP, led by newly-elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, achieved the second-highest proportion of seats in the nation's history and won every district except Batticaloa. This marked the first election since 1977 where a single party obtained a supermajority, and the first time a non-Tamil political party won the Jaffna Electoral District.[11]

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) became the main opposition, securing 17.66% of the vote and 40 seats, a significant reduction. Other results included the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) winning 8 seats, the New Democratic Front (NDF) securing 5, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) suffering a drastic decline to just 3 seats from the 145 it held previously.

This election also set records for women's representation, with 21 female MPs elected, the highest in Sri Lanka's history, and saw over 150 first-time MPs entering the legislature.[12][13]

The NPP nominated Sugath Wasantha de Silva through the national list to be appointed as a Member of Parliament. This marks a significant milestone in Sri Lankan politics, as de Silva is the first visually impaired person to be elected to parliament. A special seating arrangement will be made to accommodate his specific needs.[14][15]

Results

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National

[edit]
PartyVotes%Seats
DistrictNationalTotal±
National People's Power[a]6,863,18661.5614118159+156
Samagi Jana Balawegaya[b]1,968,71617.6635540−14
New Democratic Front[c]500,8354.49325+5
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna350,4293.14213−97
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi257,8132.31718+8
Sarvajana Balaya[d]178,0061.60011+1
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress87,0380.78213+2
United Democratic Voice83,4880.75000New
United National Party66,2340.591010
Democratic Tamil National Alliance[e]65,3820.59101New
Democratic Left Front50,8360.460000
Democratic National Alliance45,4190.41000New
Tamil National People's Front[f]39,8940.361010
Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal34,4400.31000−1
All Ceylon Makkal Congress33,9110.301010
People's Struggle Alliance[g]29,6110.270000
Eelam People's Democratic Party28,9850.26000−2
Jaffna – Independent Group 1730,6370.27101+1
National Democratic Front25,4440.230000
United National Alliance22,5480.20000New
Sri Lanka Labour Party17,7100.16101+1
Devana Parapura16,9500.15000New
Thamizh Makkal Koottani13,2950.12000New
Jana Setha Peramuna12,7430.110000
National Front for Good Governance8,4470.08000New
United National Freedom Front7,7960.07000New
Arunalu Peoples Alliance7,6660.07000New
New Independent Front7,1820.06000New
National People's Party6,3070.060000
Our Power of People's Party6,0430.05000−1
Tamil United Liberation Front5,0610.050000
Democratic United National Front4,4800.040000
Samabima Party4,4490.04000New
Patriotic People's Power3,9850.04000New
Eros Democratic Front2,8650.03000New
Democratic Unity Alliance2,1980.020000
Socialist Party of Sri Lanka2,0870.020000
Jathika Sangwardhena Peramuna1,9200.020000
United Socialist Party1,8380.020000
Socialist Equality Party8640.010000
Freedom People's Front8410.01000New
United Peace Alliance8220.010000
Lanka Janatha Party7590.01000New
Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya6590.01000New
Liberal Democratic Party6350.01000New
Nawa Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya6010.01000New
Nava Sama Samaja Party4910.00000New
Akhila Ilankai Tamil Mahasabha4500.000000
Democratic Party2830.00000New
Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya2690.00000New
Independents245,4582.200000
Total11,148,006100.00196292250
Valid votes11,148,00694.35
Invalid/blank votes667,2405.65
Total votes11,815,246100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,140,35468.93
Source: Election Commission of Sri Lanka[16]

District

[edit]
Districts won by NPP
Districts won by ITAK

Government

[edit]

Appointment of ministers and deputy ministers

[edit]

The National People's Power (NPP), having secured a supermajority with 159 seats, formed the next government of Sri Lanka. The new cabinet of ministers, sworn in on 18 November 2024, includes 21 members elected in the recent parliamentary election, along with the president, who will retain the portfolios of defence, finance, and digital economy. This was carried out in accordance with Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution. Harini Amarasuriya will continue as the prime minister, in addition to her ministerial portfolio of education, higher education and vocational education. On 25 November 2024, the President, through an Extraordinary Gazette notification, assigned subjects, functions, departments, statutory institutions, and public corporations to the respective ministries.[17]

On 21 November 2024, 29 MPs were sworn in as deputy ministers. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Cabinet Minister for Labour, was assigned the additional role of Deputy Minister for Economic Development alongside his existing responsibilities.[18][19]

Government's policy statement

[edit]

The new government's first policy statement was presented to the parliament on 21 November 2024 by the president.[20][21]

Presiding officers and parliamentary leaders

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NPP's Bimal Rathnayake and Nalinda Jayatissa were appointed as Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip respectively on 19 November 2024 by the president.[22][23]

At the inaugural meeting of the new parliament on 21 November 2024, Ashoka Ranwala, Rizvie Salih, and Hemali Weerasekara were unanimously elected as Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees, and Deputy Chairperson of Committees, respectively. Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya was recongnised as the Leader of the Opposition.[7]


Members

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List

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Notes

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  1. ^ Including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
  2. ^ Alliance consisting of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (which contested separately in one district, Ampara), the Freedom People's Congress, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Dayasiri wing), the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (which contested separately in two districts, Ampara and Batticaloa), and the Tamil Progressive Alliance (consisting of the National Union of Workers, the United Progressive Alliance, the Democratic People's Front and the Up-Country People's Front).
  3. ^ Alliance consisting of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (which contested under the symbol of the United National Party in Nuwara Eliya), the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, the National Unity Alliance, the National Congress, the New Lanka Freedom Party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Nimal wing), the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (pro-Ranil wing), and the United National Party.
  4. ^ Alliance consisting of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the Democratic Left Front, the Independent MPs Forum, the Mawbima Janatha Pakshaya and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya.
  5. ^ Alliance consisting of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization.
  6. ^ The Tamil National People's Front contested under the name and symbol of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress.
  7. ^ Alliance consisting of the Frontline Socialist Party and the New Democratic Marxist–Leninist Party.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Proclamation by the President" (PDF). The Gazette Extraordinary. Department of Government Printing. 24 September 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Balasuriya, Darshana Sanjeewa (24 September 2024). "General election on November 14". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b * For the proclamation by the President: "The Gazette Extraordinary - No.2410/02 of Tuesday, November 12, 2024 - Proclamation by the President" (PDF). Presidential Secretariat. 12 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Constitution of the D. S. R. of Sri Lanka (As amended up to 31st October 2022)" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka. 30 March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Presidential Election – 2024" (PDF). The Gazette Extraordinary. 22 September 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Presidential Election Results – 2024". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 22 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 November 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b *For information how the speaker is chosen: "Inaugural session of Tenth Parliament: How the Speaker is chosen". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Number of members to be returned for each Electoral District as required under Article 98(8) of the Constitution – After certification of 2024(1) Supplementory Electoral Register (2024.02.01 – 2024.05.31) as at 2024.07.08" (PDF). Election Commission of Sri Lanka. October 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Parliamentary Election Results – 2020". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 7 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Presidential Election Results – 2024". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 22 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  11. ^ * For new election records: "From 3% to 61%: Six major records NPP broke in historic election victory". Ada Derana. 16 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Record number of women elected to Sri Lankan Parliament in 2024". Newswire. 16 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Sri Lanka's tenth Parliament to welcome over 150 fresh faces as MPs". Ada Derana. 17 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  14. ^ "NPP names Visually Impaired Activist to Parliament". Newswire. 17 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Sri Lanka's first vision-impaired MP to receive special seating arrangement in Parliament". Ada Derana. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  16. ^ a b * For a comprehensive list of election results: "Parliamentary Election 2024 Results". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 15 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  17. ^ * For the new cabinet of ministers sworn in on 18 November: "Sri Lanka's new Cabinet of Ministers sworn in". Ada Derana. 18 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Deputy Ministers Officially Sworn In". Presidential Secretariat. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Olympic Athlete Sugath Thilakaratne among 29 Deputy Ministers". Daily Mirror. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  20. ^ "President seeks support of all to achieve successful new era". Daily Mirror. 23 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Sri Lanka's president makes U-turn on IMF bailout". The Hindu. 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Minister Bimal Rathnayake appointed as Leader of the House". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Nalinda Jayatissa appointed Chief Govt Whip". Ada Derana. 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  24. ^ * For the MPs elected from Electoral districts: "The Extraordinary Gazette, No.2410/07 of 2024.11.15 – Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981" (PDF). Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 15 November 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
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