SAMAGI JANA BALAWEGAYA
Sri Lanka local polls: President Dissanayake's party wins first official result
In Sri Lanka's local council election, the National People's Power (NPP), led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, secured its first victory in Tangalle Urban Council, a Rajapaksa family stronghold. The NPP won 9 seats with 46% of the votes, while the main opposition, SJB, secured 5 seats. Voter turnout was high at 70.
Ruling National People's Power heading for absolute majority in Sri Lanka parliamentary poll
Sri Lanka's ruling National People's Power (NPP) party, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, secured a commanding lead in the parliamentary election. With over 4.4 million votes, the NPP is projected to surpass the 150-seat threshold for an absolute majority in the 225-member assembly. The main opposition parties, SJB and NDF, suffered significant losses.
Sri Lanka votes in a parliamentary election that's key for its new Marxist-leaning president
Sri Lankans are voting in a parliamentary election that will determine if the new president's party can gain control of Parliament and implement its economic recovery plans. The election follows the recent victory of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose party needs to significantly increase its seats to form a government.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lankan president
Dissanayake, the leader of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party's broader front National People's Power (NPP), defeated his closest rival Sajith Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) in Saturday's election, and was sworn in by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Presidential Secretariat.
Sri Lanka presidential election goes to historic second count
Sri Lanka's presidential election has entered a second round of counting for the first time in history, as no candidate secured over 50 per cent of the vote. Anura Kumara Dissanayake leads with 39.52 per cent, followed by Sajith Premadasa with 34.28 per cent. The final winner will be determined after counting second preference votes.
Economy on centre stage, as Sri Lanka set to vote today in first polls since 2022 crisis
Sri Lanka is set for its first elections since the 2022 economic crisis, with the economy as the central issue. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe faces challenges from Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Sajith Premadasa. Polls show Dissanayake leading, followed by Premadasa and Wickremesinghe. The crisis had led to food and fuel shortages and political upheaval.
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Premadasa, son of slain Sri Lanka president, now in contest for same role
Sajith Premadasa, leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition party, is a key contender in the upcoming presidential election. He aims to implement economic reforms and address minority concerns. Premadasa previously served as deputy health minister and housing construction minister. He faces competition from Ranil Wickremesinghe and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Sri Lankan government renews Lanka IOC's petroleum licence for 20 years
According to officials, the Sri Lankan government has extended for an additional 20 years the petroleum products licence that Lanka IOC, the Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary operating locally, was granted. The first 2003 permit was set to expire in January 2024. The government has extended the petroleum products licence given to Lanka IOC, the Indian Oil Corporation local subsidiary, for an additional 20 years, the officials said.
India hands over fertiliser to Sri Lanka
"Adding to the fragrance of friendship and cooperation. High Commissioner (Gopal Baglay) formally handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertiliser supplied under India's special support to the people of Sri Lanka," the Indian High Commission said in a tweet after handing over the consignment.
Sri Lanka's main Opposition party demands ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa must be tried for 'misusing funds'
"Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a citizen of this country and he has the right to return to his motherland. No one can deny this right. However, he should be tried for the allegations of misuse of funds," Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) CEO Ajith P Perera was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror newspaper.
For the first time in 44 years, Sri Lanka's Parliament to directly elect President in three-way contest on Wednesday
The complaint by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena came hours before Parliament was poised to accept the nominations for the post of president, which fell vacant last week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and later resigned.
Sri Lankan opposition leader Sajith Premadasa drops out of presidential race as protests planned
"For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish, I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of president," Premadasa said on Twitter.
Sri Lanka's main opposition to nominate Premadasa as president - party official
Sri Lanka's main opposition to nominate Premadasa as president, party official confirmed on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan electricity chief resigns after withdrawing remark on Adani Group deal
The resignation of MMC Ferdinando, the chairman of state-owned power entity Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), has been accepted, energy minister Kanchana Wijesekara said on Monday.
Sri Lanka's main Opposition decides to offer conditional support to new government
Wickremesinghe, the United National Party (UNP) leader was appointed as Sri Lanka's 26th prime minister on Thursday as the country was without a government since Monday when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's elder brother and prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after violence erupted following an attack on the anti-government protesters by his supporters.
Solutions to economic crisis must be found in accordance with people's wishes: Oppn leader to Sri Lanka PM
The economic situation led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, with the former finally succumbing to public pressure and resigning on Monday, soon after the protests outside the Prime Minister's residence turned violent.
New Lankan PM inducts 4 ministers into Cabinet; Peiris retained as foreign minister
Sri Lanka's ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party has decided to offer crucial support to Wickremesinghe, who has just one seat in Parliament, to help him prove a majority in the House.
Ready to form govt if President resigns within stipulated time period, says Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Premadasa
Premadasa said that he has a sustainable programme to control the fall of the economy and for the implementation of the constitutional reforms. He said he is prepared for discussions on the swearing in of the new government, and on the period of the said new government. His comments came amidst reports that four-time former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has just one seat in the 225-member Parliament, could be sworn-in as the next premier on Thursday.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa likely to resign this week, local media says
Prime Minister Rajapaksa will brief the local council members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and then, later on, he will announce his resignation, Colombo Gazette reported. This report came after President Gotbaya Rajapaksa in a special meeting on Friday requested Prime Minister to step down from power as a solution to the ongoing political crisis in the country.
Sri Lanka parliament adjourned until May 17
Inter University Students' Federation led the University students' march from near the University of Sri Jayewardenepura to the Parliament Roundabout from Polduwa Junction in an attempt to enter the parliament. However, police fired tear gas in an attempt to get a breakthrough in the first roadblock, Colombo Page reported.
Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa-led government emerge stronger after defeat of Opposition candidate in Deputy Speaker election
Despite the SLFP going independent, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) decided to back Siyambalapitiya in their bid to show that the government majority was intact. Speaking after his election as the Deputy Speaker, Siyambalapitiya said he had expected to be unanimously appointed by both the government and the Opposition.
Sri Lanka's Parliament to meet for crucial session after Opposition submits no-trust motions against President, Government
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) handed over to the parliamentary Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena motions of no-confidence, even as the government announced the appointment of a Cabinet sub-committee to look into the proposal for a new Constitution.
In a blow to Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa govt, 3 MPs withdraw support
Sri Lanka is grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil since its independence from Britain in 1948. The crisis is caused in part by a lack of foreign currency, which has meant that the country cannot afford to pay for imports of staple foods and fuel, leading to acute shortages and very high prices.
Tamil National Alliance to back opposition in ousting President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa also called for the Executive Presidency to be abolished, saying power should be divided between the executive, legislature and judiciary.
Massive protest in Sri Lanka mounts pressure on President Rajapaksa to quit
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from the UK in 1948.
Sri Lanka hikes interest rates to tackle inflation amid economic crisis
The move comes as Sri Lanka's main Opposition party SJB on Friday announced that it will move a no-confidence motion against the government of President Rajapaksa and is prepared to impeach the embattled leader if he fails to address the concerns of the public.
India assures Sri Lanka assistance to overcome its economic crisis
The assurance was offered by Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay. India has so far extended support worth 2.5 bn usd to Sri Lanka over the last few months to overcome the economic crisis. He recalled that the focus has been on support for currency -currency swap; extending credit for fuel and food and energy sector.
Sri Lanka government in disarray as economic crisis deepens, health crisis brews
Rajapaksa dissolved his cabinet on Monday and sought to form a unity government as public unrest surged over the ruling family's handling of the debt-heavy economy that has led to shortages of food and fuel and prolonged power cuts.
Sri Lanka Oppn rejects unity govt offer, seeks Prez resignation
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's overture came as armed troops looked to quell more demonstrations over what the government acknowledges is the country's most severe economic crisis since independence in 1948.
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