Sri Lanka’s 2024 Parliamentary Elections Begin
On November 14, 2024, Sri Lanka commenced its parliamentary elections, called by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The elections started at 7 am, aiming to secure a majority in parliament to implement policies to address the nation’s financial crisis.
Election Details
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka is overseeing the 10th general polls. The newly elected Parliament’s first session is set for November 21. A total of 8,361 candidates are competing for 225 seats, with 29 seats filled through a national list.
Voter Participation
Commissioner General of Election S Saman Sri Rathnayake anticipates higher voter turnout than the previous presidential election, where 79.46% of 17,140,354 registered voters participated.
President Dissanayake’s Vision
President Dissanayake, 55, has promised to transform Sri Lanka into a poverty-free nation. He plans to form a government with less than 25 ministers to efficiently develop the country. He also aims to abolish the executive presidency, a system criticized for centralizing power.
Political Context
In addition to Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP), other contestants include the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the New Democratic Front (NDF). Vote counting will begin after polls close at 4 pm.
Doubts Revealed
Sri Lanka -: Sri Lanka is a small island country located in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. It is known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and diverse culture.
Parliamentary Elections -: Parliamentary elections are when people in a country vote to choose their leaders who will make laws and decisions for the country. In Sri Lanka, these elections decide who will be in the parliament, which is like a big meeting where important decisions are made.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake -: Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the President of Sri Lanka. He is a leader who wants to make changes in the country to help solve problems like the financial crisis.
Financial Crisis -: A financial crisis is when a country has big money problems, like not having enough money to pay for things it needs. This can make life difficult for people living there.
Election Commission -: The Election Commission is a group of people who make sure that elections are fair and run smoothly. They help organize the voting process and count the votes.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya -: Samagi Jana Balawegaya is a political party in Sri Lanka. Political parties are groups of people who have similar ideas about how the country should be run.
New Democratic Front -: The New Democratic Front is another political party in Sri Lanka. Like other parties, they have their own ideas and plans for the country.
Executive Presidency -: The executive presidency is a system where the president has a lot of power to make decisions for the country. President Dissanayake wants to change this system to give more power to other parts of the government.
