16th Parliament of Sri Lanka | |||||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||||
Legislative body | Parliament of Sri Lanka | ||||||||||
Meeting place | Sri Lankan Parliament Building | ||||||||||
Term | 20 August 2020 – | ||||||||||
Election | 5 August 2020 | ||||||||||
Website | parliament | ||||||||||
Parliamentarians | |||||||||||
Members | 225 | ||||||||||
Speaker | Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena (SLPP) | ||||||||||
Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees | Ranjith Siyambalapitiya (SLFP) (2020–22) Ajith Rajapaksa (SLPP) (2022–) | ||||||||||
Deputy Chairman of Committees | Angajan Ramanathan (SLFP) | ||||||||||
Prime Minister | Mahinda Rajapaksa (SLPP) (2020–22) Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP) (2022) Dinesh Gunawardena (SLPP) (2022–) | ||||||||||
Leader of the Opposition | Sajith Premadasa (SJB) | ||||||||||
Leader of the House | Dinesh Gunawardena (SLPP) (2020–22) Susil Premajayantha (SLPP) (2022–) | ||||||||||
Chief Government Whip | Johnston Fernando (SLPP) (2020–22) Prasanna Ranatunga (SLPP) (2022–) | ||||||||||
Chief Opposition Whip | Lakshman Kiriella (SJB) | ||||||||||
Structure | |||||||||||
Sessions | |||||||||||
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The 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka is the current Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the membership determined by the results of the 2020 parliamentary election held on 5 August 2020. According to the Constitution of Sri Lanka the maximum legislative term of the parliament is 5 years from the first meeting.
The 16th parliamentary election was held on 5 August 2020. [1] The incumbent Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance claimed a landslide victory in the election claiming the majority winning 145 seats, [2] [3] [4] while the newly formed Samagi Jana Balawegaya won a total of 54 seats and the National People's Power won 3 seats. [5] [6] [7] The main opposition United National Party suffered their worst ever landslide defeat in history, claiming only one national seat and receiving the fifth most votes in the elections. [8]
The first official results were released on 6 August 2020 in the afternoon starting with the postal votes in the Galle District. [9]
The SLPFA became the largest group in Parliament after securing 59.09% of votes and 145 seats whilst the SJB won 23.90% of votes and 54 seats. [10] [11] SLPFA managed to exceed the majority cutoff of 113 with obtaining 128 seats from election votes and 17 seats from the national list. [12]
Alliances and parties | Votes | % | Seats | ||||
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District | National | Total | +/– | ||||
6,853,690 | 59.09% | 128 | 17 | 145 | 50 | ||
2,771,980 | 23.90% | 47 | 7 | 54 | New | ||
327,168 | 2.82% | 9 | 1 | 10 | 6 | ||
445,958 | 3.84% | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | ||
67,766 | 0.58% | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
Eelam People's Democratic Party | 61,464 | 0.53% | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
United National Party (Ranil wing) | 249,435 | 2.15% | 0 | 1 | 1 | 105 | |
Our Power of People's Party | 67,758 | 0.58% | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal | 67,692 | 0.58% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Sri Lanka Freedom Party [lower-roman 5] | 66,579 | 0.57% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Muslim National Alliance | 55,981 | 0.48% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 51,301 | 0.44% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
All Ceylon Makkal Congress [lower-roman 6] | 43,319 | 0.37% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
National Congress [lower-roman 2] | 39,272 | 0.34% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress [lower-roman 7] | 34,428 | 0.30% | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
Independents | 223,622 | 1.93% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
United Peace Alliance | 31,054 | 0.27% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
All Lanka Tamil Mahasabha | 30,031 | 0.26% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
National Development Front | 14,686 | 0.13% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Frontline Socialist Party | 14,522 | 0.13% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Social Democratic Party of Tamils | 11,464 | 0.10% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Tamil United Liberation Front | 9,855 | 0.08% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Socialist Party of Sri Lanka | 9,368 | 0.08% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
People's Welfare Front | 7,361 | 0.06% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Sinhalese National Front | 5,056 | 0.04% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
New Democratic Front | 4,883 | 0.04% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
United Left Front | 4,879 | 0.04% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Liberal Party of Sri Lanka | 4,345 | 0.04% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
National People's Party | 3,813 | 0.03% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Democratic United National Front | 3,611 | 0.03% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
National Democratic Front | 3,488 | 0.03% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Sri Lanka Labour Party | 3,134 | 0.03% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Democratic Left Front | 2,964 | 0.03% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
New Sinhala Heritage | 1,397 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
United Socialist Party | 1,189 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Motherland People's Party | 1,087 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Eelavar Democratic Front | 1,035 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Socialist Equality Party | 780 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Lanka Sama Samaja Party [lower-roman 4] | 737 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
All Are Citizens All Are Kings Organization | 632 | 0.01% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Democratic Unity Alliance | 145 | 0.00% | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Independents | 42 | ||||||
Valid Votes | 11,598,929 | 100.00% | 196 | 29 | 225 | ||
Rejected Votes | 744,373 | 6.03% | |||||
Total Polled | 12,343,302 | 75.89% | |||||
Registered Electors | 16,263,885 | ||||||
Footnotes:
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Districts won by SJB |
Districts won by SLPFA |
Districts won by TNA |
Electoral District | Province | SLPFA | SJB | TNA | NPP | Others | Total | Turnout | ||||||||||||
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Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | |||
Ampara | Eastern | 126,012 | 32.65% | 3 | 102,274 | 26.50% | 2 | 25,255 | 6.54% | 0 | 5,060 | 1.31% | 0 | 127,396 | 33.00% | 2 | 385,997 | 100.00% | 7 | 78.28% |
Anuradhapura | North Central | 344,458 | 67.95% | 7 | 119,788 | 23.63% | 2 | - | - | - | 24,492 | 4.83% | 0 | 18,164 | 3.58% | 0 | 506,902 | 100.00% | 9 | 78.19% |
Badulla | Uva | 309,538 | 62.06% | 6 | 144,290 | 28.93% | 3 | - | - | - | 19,308 | 3.87% | 0 | 25,659 | 5.14% | 0 | 498,795 | 100.00% | 9 | 80.43% |
Batticaloa | Eastern | 33,424 | 11.22% | 1 | 28,362 | 9.52% | 0 | 79,460 | 26.66% | 2 | 348 | 0.12% | 0 | 156,418 | 52.49% | 2 | 298,012 | 100.00% | 5 | 76.83% |
Colombo | Western | 674,603 | 57.04% | 12 | 387,145 | 32.73% | 6 | - | - | - | 67,600 | 5.72% | 1 | 53,428 | 4.52% | 0 | 1,182,776 | 100.00% | 19 | 73.94% |
Galle | Southern | 430,334 | 70.54% | 7 | 115,456 | 18.93% | 2 | - | - | - | 29,963 | 4.91% | 0 | 34,299 | 5.62% | 0 | 610,052 | 100.00% | 9 | 74.43% |
Gampaha | Western | 807,896 | 65.76% | 13 | 285,809 | 23.27% | 4 | - | - | - | 61,833 | 5.03% | 1 | 72,936 | 5.94% | 0 | 1,228,474 | 100.00% | 18 | 73.01% |
Hambantota | Southern | 280,881 | 75.10% | 6 | 51,758 | 13.84% | 1 | - | - | - | 31,362 | 8.39% | 0 | 10,016 | 2.68% | 0 | 374,017 | 100.00% | 7 | 79.68% |
Jaffna | Northern | - | - | - | 13,564 | 3.78% | 0 | 112,967 | 31.46% | 3 | 853 | 0.24% | 0 | 231,746 | 64.53% | 4 | 359,130 | 100.00% | 7 | 68.92% |
Kalutara | Western | 448,699 | 64.08% | 8 | 171,988 | 24.56% | 2 | - | - | - | 33,434 | 4.77% | 0 | 46,135 | 6.59% | 0 | 700,256 | 100.00% | 10 | 76.79% |
Kandy | Central | 477,446 | 58.76% | 8 | 234,523 | 28.86% | 4 | - | - | - | 22,997 | 2.83% | 0 | 77,612 | 9.55% | 0 | 812,578 | 100.00% | 12 | 77.02% |
Kegalle | Sabaragamuwa | 331,573 | 66.29% | 7 | 131,317 | 26.25% | 2 | - | - | - | 14,033 | 2.81% | 0 | 23,284 | 4.65% | 0 | 500,207 | 100.00% | 9 | 76.70% |
Kurunegala | North Western | 649,965 | 66.92% | 11 | 244,860 | 25.21% | 4 | - | - | - | 36,290 | 3.74% | 0 | 40,128 | 4.13% | 0 | 971,243 | 100.00% | 15 | 75.45% |
Matale | Central | 188,779 | 65.53% | 4 | 73,955 | 25.67% | 1 | - | - | - | 7,542 | 2.62% | 0 | 17,797 | 6.18% | 0 | 288,073 | 100.00% | 5 | 76.69% |
Matara | Southern | 352,217 | 73.63% | 6 | 72,740 | 15.21% | 1 | - | - | - | 37,136 | 7.76% | 0 | 16,286 | 3.40% | 0 | 478,379 | 100.00% | 7 | 75.95% |
Monaragala | Uva | 208,193 | 74.12% | 5 | 54,147 | 19.28% | 1 | - | - | - | 11,429 | 4.07% | 0 | 7,116 | 2.53% | 0 | 280,885 | 100.00% | 6 | 80.93% |
Nuwara Eliya | Central | 230,389 | 54.47% | 5 | 132,008 | 31.21% | 3 | - | - | - | 5,043 | 1.19% | 0 | 55,537 | 13.13% | 0 | 422,977 | 100.00% | 8 | 80.49% |
Polonnaruwa | North Central | 180,847 | 73.66% | 4 | 47,781 | 19.46% | 1 | - | - | - | 6,792 | 2.77% | 0 | 10,099 | 4.11% | 0 | 245,519 | 100.00% | 5 | 78.99% |
Puttalam | North Western | 220,566 | 57.26% | 5 | 80,183 | 20.81% | 2 | - | - | - | 9,944 | 2.58% | 0 | 74,528 | 19.35% | 1 | 385,221 | 100.00% | 8 | 67.47% |
Ratnapura | Sabaragamuwa | 446,668 | 68.86% | 8 | 155,759 | 24.01% | 3 | - | - | - | 17,611 | 2.72% | 0 | 28,576 | 4.41% | 0 | 648,614 | 100.00% | 11 | 77.38% |
Trincomalee | Eastern | 68,681 | 32.25% | 1 | 86,394 | 40.56% | 2 | 39,570 | 18.58% | 1 | 2,226 | 1.05% | 0 | 16,121 | 7.57% | 0 | 212,992 | 100.00% | 4 | 78.62% |
Vanni | Northern | 42,524 | 20.46% | 1 | 37,883 | 18.23% | 1 | 69,916 | 33.64% | 3 | 662 | 0.32% | 0 | 56,852 | 27.35% | 1 | 207,837 | 100.00% | 6 | 78.34% |
National List | 17 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 29 | ||||||||||||||
Total | 6,853,693 | 59.09% | 145 | 2,771,984 | 23.90% | 54 | 327,168 | 2.82% | 10 | 445,958 | 3.84% | 3 | 1,200,133 | 2.15% | 13 | 11,598,936 | 91.80% | 225 | 75.89% |
The Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance was able to form a government with a supermajority, with Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister.
After country-wide protests in 2022, Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned and Ranil Wickramasinghe was appointed as his successor.
On 13 July 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned on 14 July 2022. [16] Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected president by the parliament on 20 July and Dinesh Gunawardena was appointed as prime minister by president Wickremesinghe. [17]
On 5 March 2024, the main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya handed over a no-confidence motion against Speaker of the Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, claiming that his actions failed to protect the Constitution of Sri Lanka by allowing the signature of the Online Safety Bill. [18] [19] [20] The motion was debated from 19 to 21 March, and was defeated with 75 votes for and 117 votes against. [21] [22]
The following are the changes in party and alliance affiliations for the 16th parliament.
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The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the main political parties of Sri Lanka. It was founded by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike in 1951 and has been one of the two largest parties in the Sri Lankan political arena since. It first came to power in 1956 and has served as the predominant ruling party on a number of occasions. It is currently the third largest party in the Parliament of Sri Lanka after the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.
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Basil Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan-American politician. He is a former Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for the national list.
Manusha Nanayakkara is a Sri Lankan politician, Cabinet Minister, and member of Parliament for the Galle District. He is a journalist by profession and was educated at Mahinda College, Galle. He was appointed as the Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment on the 20 May 2022.
Harin Fernando, MP is a Sri Lankan politician, Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament. He is the former Minister of Tourism and Lands as well as the former Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs. He previously served as the Minister of Sports before, as well as the Telecommunication, Digital Infrastructure Facilities, Foreign Employment, and Tourism ministers in previous Sri Lankan governments. He was the 7th Chief Minister of Uva Province.
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