- Title: Sri Lanka counts votes for new parliament with economic reforms at stake
- Date: 14th November 2024
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (NOVEMBER 16, 2024) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERING AT THE SITE OF AN ISRAELI STRIKE ON ABU ASSI SCHOOL IN GAZA CITY'S SHATI REFUGEE CAMP CURRENTLY SHELTERING DISPLACED FAMILIES / AUDIO OF AMBULANCES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND THE DAMAGED SCHOOL-TURNED SHELTER BUILDING CHILDREN WALKING ON RUBBLE VARIOUS OF CASUALTIES ON THE GROUND / PEO
- Embargoed: 28th November 2024 14:51
- Keywords: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Sri Lanka economic crisis imf snap general election
- Location: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- City: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001976514112024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Sri Lanka began counting votes cast on Thursday (November 14) in a snap general election that will decide if the Indian Ocean island nation will give its new leftist president greater legislative power to help the poor as it recovers from a financial meltdown.
"This is an election which will make a decisive change in the country. The National People’s Power expect a strong mandate from the people to have a strong parliament. We are confident that the people will give us that mandate,” the president, Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake, 55 said after casting his vote in Colombo on Thursday.
Just over 17 million Sri Lankans were eligible to elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term. A record 690 political parties and independent groups are in the fray across 22 electoral districts.
Counting of the paper ballots started shortly after polling closed on Thursday, with results expected on Friday (November 15). Voter turnout was about 65% at close of polling, the election commission said.
Dissanayake was elected in September but his National People's Power (NPP) coalition had just three of parliament's 225 seats, prompting him to dissolve it and seek a fresh mandate.
The president wields executive power but Dissanayake still requires a parliamentary majority to appoint a fully-fledged cabinet and deliver on key promises to cut taxes, support local businesses, and fight poverty.
He also has plans to abolish Sri Lanka's contentious executive presidency but requires a two-third majority in parliament to implement it.
The main challenger to Dissanayake's coalition is the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who favours a mix of interventionist and free-market economics.
Also a key contender is the New Democratic Front, backed by previous President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
A nation of 22 million, Sri Lanka was crushed by a 2022 economic crisis triggered by a severe shortage of foreign currency that pushed it into a sovereign default and caused its economy to shrink by 7.3% in 2022 and 2.3% last year.
Boosted by a $2.9 billion bailout programme from the International Monetary Fund, the economy has begun a tentative recovery, but the high cost of living is still a critical issue for many, especially the poor.
(Production: Channa Kumara Bogahawatthage, Amy Pollock) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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