Sri Lanka’s Dissanayake seeks strong win in election to advance crucial reforms

As Sri Lanka heads into a snap general election next month, the spotlight is on its newly appointed president who is aiming to secure a parliamentary majority to push through crucial reforms and deliver on his promises to the people.

The country last month marked a historic political change by electing into office its first president from a socialist background – leader of the leftist National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

While Dissanayake did not secure a simple majority during the first round of counting for the presidential race, he led with 42.3 per cent in the second round. NPP at present holds only three parliamentary seats that it won in the 2020 general election.

Ahead of the coming polls, Dissanayake faces the challenge of ensuring NPP clinches the majority to establish a government – a crucial next step in pushing through with ambitious reforms pledged during his presidential campaign.

These include abolishing the executive presidency, addressing rampant corruption in the country and renegotiating better terms for Sri Lanka’s debts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The early signs for now seem to favour the NPP in the election on November 14, analysts say. The party has to secure at least 113 seats out of 225 to attain a simple majority in parliament.