Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his National People’s Power (NPP) party have won a decisive two-thirds majority in parliament, raising expectations for transformative governance in a nation long fractured by ethnic and political divides.
The NPP secured 159 of 225 parliamentary seats, surpassing all other parties in a landslide victory. This marks the first time since the introduction of proportional representation in 1977 that a single party has achieved such dominance. The result eliminates the need for coalition-building, enabling Dissanayake to pass legislation and push reforms independently.
A Vote for Change
Dissanayake’s victory has been hailed as a break from the past. His party, rooted in the Marxist-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, rose to prominence during the 2022 protests against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government. The NPP’s campaign focused on fighting corruption, addressing economic instability, and uniting a nation often divided by ethnicity and religion.
“This is a mandate for change,” said Samanmalee Gunasinghe, an NPP candidate who won in Colombo. “The people have shown they are ready to move beyond old politics.”
For many voters, the decision was driven by frustration with years of stagnation and mismanagement. “We’ve been voting for the same people for years, and nothing has improved,” said Vasantha Raj, a daily wage earner in Colombo. “This time, we’ll see what the NPP can do.”
Challenges Ahead
The expectations for Dissanayake are immense. The NPP has pledged to tackle widespread corruption, stabilize the economy, and rewrite Sri Lanka’s constitution through a referendum. The country’s economic crisis, exacerbated by the Rajapaksa family’s policies and later austerity measures under interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe, remains a pressing issue.
“My mother is very sick, and we can barely afford food or medicine,” said MF Sareena, who brought her elderly mother to vote in Colombo. “We hope this government will ease our burden.”
The NPP also carries the hopes of historically marginalized groups. In a significant shift, the Tamil community in the north, long aligned with ethnic Tamil parties, voted for the NPP. The party must now address their demands, including the return of lands seized during the civil war and efforts to heal decades-old grievances.
“This is not going to be easy,” said Ahilan Kadirgamar, a sociology lecturer at the University of Jaffna. “Delivering justice to the Tamil and Muslim minorities and reversing years of xenophobia will require a deep commitment.”
Bridging Divides
The election has also raised hopes of bridging longstanding ethnic and religious divides. Abdul Rahuman Seyyadu Sulaiman, a Muslim voter in Colombo, expressed optimism for justice under the new government. “When the former government cremated a baby during the COVID-19 pandemic against our religious beliefs, I protested. Justice was never served,” he said. “We hope Dissanayake will listen to us.”
A New Chapter
The NPP leadership has acknowledged the heavy burden of expectations. “We will ensure that we will not misuse this power like those who came before us,” said Nihal Abeysinghe, the party’s secretary, in a post-election statement.
Sri Lanka now stands at a crossroads, with an opportunity to rewrite its political narrative. Whether Dissanayake and the NPP can deliver on their promises will determine whether this victory marks the beginning of genuine change or just another chapter in the island’s turbulent history.