Sri Lanka President Dissanayake Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Election For November 14

Newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has dissolved parliament and called for a snap election on November 14 to secure a fresh mandate for his policies amid the country's economic crisis.

Sri Lanka's newly elected leftist President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has dissolved parliament and called for a snap election, set for 14 November, almost a year ahead of schedule. The announcement was made via an official government gazette on Tuesday. This decision comes as Dissanayake's People's Liberation Front (JVP) holds only three seats in the 225-member parliament. He has called for the new assembly to convene for its first session on November 21.

Dissanayake, who won the presidency in a recent election, is faced with the enormous task of guiding the debt-ridden country out of its economic turmoil. His coalition, the National People's Party, holds only a minority in the current parliament, prompting him to dissolve the legislature in a bid to secure a fresh mandate to implement his policies, news agency Reuters reported.

The last general election in Sri Lanka was held in August 2020, with lawmakers elected for a five-year term. However, Dissanayake's early dissolution of the parliament comes as a move to bolster his legislative support to enact reforms and address the ongoing challenges in the country.

Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis

Sri Lanka's economy has been grappling with severe financial difficulties since 2022, when a foreign exchange crisis left the nation unable to pay for essential imports such as fuel, medicine, and cooking gas. This economic collapse triggered widespread protests, which ultimately led to the resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. 

In his campaign, Dissanayake promised to deliver change to those suffering under austerity measures imposed as part of a $2.9 billion IMF bailout programme. He has also pledged to expand existing welfare schemes and provide relief to the struggling population. However, his proposals to cut taxes and reconsider the terms of the bailout agreement have raised concerns among investors, fearing potential delays in Sri Lanka’s crucial $25 billion debt restructuring, Reuters reported.

Now, as president, Dissanayake is tasked with navigating the balance of restoring sustainable economic growth, reassuring international and domestic markets, attracting investment, and alleviating poverty for the approximately 25% of Sri Lanka’s 22 million citizens living below the poverty line.