The National People’s Power’s (NPP’s) victory at the Parliamentary election on November 14, 2024 with an unprecedented majority is a direct call for political elites globally to avoid the dangers of corruption, over-indulgence, and detachment from the needs of ordinary citizens.
The election marked several historic milestones. For the first time, a non-Tamil party has won in the Jaffna District highlighting the NPP’s cross-ethnic appeal. In fact, the NPP has won both Vanni and Jaffna, traditionally hard-line Tamil areas.
The NPP under the leadership of Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) coalition, secured 159 seats of the 225, including 18 bonus seats, with over 6.8 million votes — a staggering 61.56 percent of the total vote count.
This outcome represents the largest majority ever achieved by a single party in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary history. The result signifies a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape, driven by the electorate’s demand for sweeping reforms following years of economic turmoil, corruption, and a breakdown in law and order. The Sajith Premadasa-led Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) polled over 1.9 million votes and will become the main Opposition of the tenth Parliament. The SJB obtained 40 seats including five bonus seats. .
The Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) won eight seats including one bonus seat, the New Democratic Front (NDF), popularly known as Gas Cylinder won five seats, including two bonus seats. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) won three seats including one bonus seat.
Dilip Jayaweera’s ‘Sarvajana Balaya’ failed to secure any parliamentary seats despite an aggressive campaign but captured a bonus seat.
The election results have seen an unforeseen erosion of the power of the traditional elite political parties that many have been forced to announce their retirement from politics.
The election result has reduced the Ranil Wickremesinghe – led United National Party (UNP), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Jaffna – Independent Group 17 and the Sri Lanka Labour Party (SLLP) to single digits. They were reduced to a single seat each, a clear indication of the public’s dissatisfaction with the established political order.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake led NPP’s overwhelming mandate, has positioned it strongly to implement its election manifesto for social, economic, and political transformation of the country. The notion that Governments must respect the sovereignty of the people also resonated strongly with the election result.
This is the first time that a single political party has achieved more than a two-thirds majority under the Proportional Representation system. The NPP which won three seats in the last Parliament moved to an unprecedented super-majority in the tenth Parliament.
The NPP’s victory in Sri Lanka mirrored instances from other countries where public discontent, fuelled by corruption, nepotism and economic mismanagement, led to significant political shifts. For example, the election of Syriza in Greece in 2015, as a response to austerity and perceived elite mismanagement, underscored the public’s ability to reject political elites when they fail to deliver. Similarly, Gabriel Boric’s election in Chile (2019-2021), following widespread protests against inequality and neoliberal policies, highlighted the power of the people to demand accountability and systemic change.
As the new Parliament convenes on November 21, 2024, the NPP faces significant challenges, particularly in navigating Sri Lanka’s complex debt restructuring process. However, with the electorate firmly behind it, the party is poised to implement its reform agenda, which aims to address the country’s economic and social woes while restoring public trust in governance.
The NPP’s victory is a resounding affirmation of the power of the people to demand accountability and systemic change, providing a stark reminder to governments worldwide: stays connected to the needs of the people, or face the consequences.
