Landslide Win for Sri Lanka's President Dissanayake’s Leftist Coalition
By Amal Jayasinghe
November 15, 2024
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People's Power Party (NPP) achieved a historic landslide victory during Thursday's snap election, solidifying its control over the nation’s parliament with decisive results. The party seized 159 out of the 225 legislative seats, laying the groundwork for major reforms as the island nation grapples with its worst economic crisis ever.
According to the Elections Commission, the NPP garnered over 6.8 million votes, equaling nearly 62 percent of the total. This marks a significant jump from the approximately 42 percent of votes Dissanayake received during his presidential election victory just weeks earlier on September 21, 2024. The former opposition coalition, Sajith Premadasa’s Samagi Jana Balawegaya party, trailed significantly with only 35 seats.
Dissanayake’s election promise to combat poverty and corruption, refresh the country's constitution, and advocate for political change is certainly on the minds of the many constituents who propelled him to this commanding win. He expressed his gratitude on social media platform X, thanking voters for their faith and encouraging notions of revival and reform.
"We see this as a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka. We expect to create and maintain strong governance, and we are confident the people will continue to support us," Dissanayake stated after casting his vote on election day.
Political analysts note the election results reflect not just dissatisfaction with traditional party politics but also reveal new voting trends, particularly among minority ethnic groups. The NPP’s success among Tamil voters, especially within regions historically dominated by ethnic Tamil parties, indicates notable shifts. Ahilan Kadirgamar, a political economist at the University of Jaffna, stressed the unprecedented support Dissanayake garnered across the country, including the Northern Province, which has long been resistant to Sinhalese leadership.
He remarked, "This signals the end of decades of mono-ethnic party dominance and reveals deep-seated disaffection with established parties. Ethnic minorities are now willing to align with leaders outside their traditional parties, raising expectations for genuine change." Veeragathy Thanabalasingham, another Colombo-based political analyst, observed the fragmentation of Tamil parties, which failed to unite and hence lost significant influence.
Critics have pointed out, though, the massive expectations placed on the NPP. Expectations include not only economic reforms and immediate action to alleviate the financial burdens on citizens but also attempts to amend the constitution without relying on other political factions, as the NPP stands poised to pursue substantial legislative changes.
Sri Lanka’s economic woes are longstanding, accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated key industries such as tourism. Dissanayake and his administration face mounting pressure to not just stabilize but revive the economy after years of mismanagement, regulatory missteps, and severe austerity measures under prior governments.
The issue of managing Sri Lanka’s large debt is immediate. Currently, the country is under the guidance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic recovery after declaring bankruptcy and defaulting on over $50 billion worth of external debts. While Dissanayake has previously called for renegotiation of terms with the IMF, he has since realigned his approach to comply with existing agreements, emphasizing the need for strategic planning and management.
Despite the pressing challenges, many of the new government's supporters express hope for the NPP's capacity to fulfill its promises. Jeewantha Balasuriya, 42, shared, "The people have placed their trust. We believe this new government can truly uplift our country from its current difficult position."
The NPP's success reflects the culmination of deep-rooted frustrations among citizens, who have grown weary of the traditional political establishment and seek tangible changes. With the new parliament set to convene on November 21, the coming weeks and months are expected to be closely watched as Dissanayake and his NPP undertake the monumental tasks of reshaping Sri Lanka’s governance and economy.
Dissanayake’s victory signifies not only new leadership but also fresh hope among the populace as the country aims to pull itself from the cliffs of despair and reclaim its economic and political stability.
