17th Parliament of Sri Lanka explained

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17th Parliament of Sri Lanka
Body:Parliament of Sri Lanka
Meeting Place:Sri Lankan Parliament Building
Election:14 November 2024
Before:16th
After:18th
Chamber1:Parliamentarians
Membership1:225
Chamber1 Leader1 Type:Speaker
Chamber1 Leader1:Ashoka Ranwala (NPP)
Chamber1 Leader2 Type:Deputy Speaker and
Chairman of Committees
Chamber1 Leader2:Rizvie Salih (NPP)
Chamber1 Leader3 Type:Deputy Chairperson of Committees
Chamber1 Leader3:Hemali Weerasekara (NPP)
Chamber1 Leader4 Type:Prime Minister
Chamber1 Leader4:Harini Amarasuriya (NPP)
Chamber1 Leader5 Type:Leader of the Opposition
Chamber1 Leader5:Sajith Premadasa (SJB)
Chamber1 Leader6 Type:Leader of the House
Chamber1 Leader6:Bimal Rathnayake (NPP)
Chamber2 Leader1 Type:Chief Government Whip
Chamber2 Leader1:Nalinda Jayatissa (NPP)
Chamber2 Leader2 Type:Chief Opposition Whip
Chamber2 Leader2:Gayantha Karunathilaka (SJB)
Chamber3:Structure
Session1 Type:1st

The 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka (10th Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) is the current Parliament of Sri Lanka, with its membership determined by the results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 14 November 2024.[1] [2] The parliament met for the first time on 21 November 2024.[3]

According to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the term of the Parliament is 5 years. However, under Article 70 of the Constitution and Section 10 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, the President of Sri Lanka may dissolve parliament after two years and six months from its first sitting or upon receiving a resolution from parliament. This signifies that the president will possess the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament by decree, effective from 21 May 2027.[4] [5]

Timeline

Key dates
Date Day Event Ref.
21 September 2024 Saturday Anura Kumara Dissanayake is elected as president at the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election.[6] [7]
24 September 2024TuesdayPresident Dissanayake dissolved the 16th parliament and called for a parliamentary election.
14 November 2024ThursdayElection day.
21 November 2024ThursdayFirst meeting of the 17th parliament.
Formal election of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees.
Swearing in of the elected members.
Presentation of the government's policy statement by the President.

Recent changes in seat allocations

See also: Electoral districts of Sri Lanka and List of Polling divisions of Sri Lanka.

Election

See main article: 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.

See also: Elections in Sri Lanka, List of parliaments of Sri Lanka and List of parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka.

The National People's Power (NPP) secured a historic landslide victory in the parliamentary election, winning 61.65% of the popular vote and a supermajority of 159 seats—the largest number ever won by a single party in Sri Lanka's history. The NPP, led by newly-elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, achieved the second-highest proportion of seats in the nation's history and won every district except Batticaloa. This marked the first election since 1977 where a single party obtained a supermajority, and the first time a non-Tamil political party won the Jaffna Electoral District.[8]

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) became the main opposition, securing 17.66% of the vote and 40 seats, a significant reduction. Other results included the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) winning 8 seats, the New Democratic Front (NDF) securing 5, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) suffering a drastic decline to just 3 seats from the 145 it held previously.

This election also set records for women's representation, with 21 female MPs elected, the highest in Sri Lanka's history, and saw over 150 first-time MPs entering the legislature.[9] [10]

The NPP nominated Sugath Wasantha de Silva through the national list to be appointed as a Member of Parliament. This marks a significant milestone in Sri Lankan politics, as de Silva is the first visually impaired person to be elected to parliament. A special seating arrangement will be made to accommodate his specific needs.[11] [12]

Results

District

Government

See also: Second Dissanayake cabinet.

Appointment of ministers and deputy ministers

The National People's Power (NPP), having secured a supermajority with 159 seats, formed the next government of Sri Lanka. The new cabinet of ministers, sworn in on 18 November 2024, includes 21 members elected in the recent parliamentary election, along with the president, who will retain the portfolios of defence, finance, and digital economy. This was carried out in accordance with Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution. Harini Amarasuriya will continue as the prime minister, in addition to her ministerial portfolio of education, higher education and vocational education. On 25 November 2024, the president, through an Gazette Extraordinary notification, assigned subjects, functions, departments, statutory institutions, and public corporations to the respective ministries.[13]

On 21 November 2024, 29 MPs were sworn in as deputy ministers. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Cabinet Minister for Labour, was assigned the additional role of Deputy Minister for Economic Development alongside his existing responsibilities.[14]

Government budget and policy statement

The new government's first policy statement was presented to the parliament on 21 November 2024 by the president.[15] [16]

On 26 November 2024, the cabinet spokesman announced that an interim vote on account would be presented to parliament, with a debate scheduled for 5 and 6 December 2024. The budget proposals for 2025 are set to be presented to parliament on 9 January, with the budget speech scheduled for 17 February 2025.[17]

Presiding officers and parliamentary leaders

NPP's Bimal Rathnayake and Nalinda Jayatissa were appointed as Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip respectively on 19 November 2024 by the president.[18] [19] At the inaugural meeting of the new parliament on 21 November 2024, Ashoka Ranwala, Rizvie Salih, and Hemali Weerasekara were unanimously elected as Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees, and Deputy Chairperson of Committees, respectively. Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was recognised as the Leader of the Opposition. On 3 December 2023, Gayantha Karunathilaka of the SJB was recognised by the Speaker as the Chief Opposition Whip.[20]

Members

List

Members of the 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka[21]
NameDistrictPref.
Votes		Member
From		Member
To		Elected
Alliance		Current
Alliance		Notes
align=left align=left COLalign=right align=left Prime Minister.
Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
align=left align=left COLalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development.
align=left align=left COLalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs.
align=left align=left COLalign=right align=left Minister of Justice and National Integration.
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right align=left Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees.
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left COLalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Minister of Labour.
Deputy Minister of Economic Development.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Labour.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Minister of Science and Technology.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of National Integrity.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Speaker of the Parliament.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right align=left Deputy Chairperson of Committees.
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left GAMalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right align=left Chief Government Whip.
Minister of Health and Mass Media.
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KALalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right align=left Minister of Agriculture, Livestock Development, Land and Irrigation.
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways.
align=left align=left KANalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Health and Mass Media.
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left KANalign=right
align=left align=left MTLalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
align=left align=left MTLalign=right
align=left align=left MTLalign=right
align=left align=left MTLalign=right
align=left align=left MTLalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education.
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left NUWalign=right
align=left align=left GALalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Vocational Education.
align=left align=left GALalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources.
align=left align=left GALalign=right
align=left align=left GALalign=right
align=left align=left GALalign=right
align=left align=left GALalign=right
align=left align=left GALalign=right
align=left align=left GALalign=right align=left Chief Opposition Whip.
align=left align=left GALalign=right
align=left align=left MTRalign=right align=left Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development.
align=left align=left MTRalign=right align=left Minister of Women and Child Affairs.
align=left align=left MTRalign=right
align=left align=left MTRalign=right
align=left align=left MTRalign=right
align=left align=left MTRalign=right
align=left align=left MTRalign=right
align=left align=left HAMalign=right
align=left align=left HAMalign=right
align=left align=left HAMalign=right
align=left align=left HAMalign=right
align=left align=left HAMalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government.
align=left align=left HAMalign=right
align=left align=left HAMalign=right
align=left align=left JAFalign=right
align=left align=left JAFalign=right
align=left align=left JAFalign=right
align=left align=left JAFalign=right
align=left align=left JAFalign=right
align=left align=left JAFalign=right
align=left align=left VANalign=right
align=left align=left VANalign=right
align=left align=left VANalign=right
align=left align=left VANalign=right
align=left align=left VANalign=right
align=left align=left VANalign=right
align=left align=left BATalign=right
align=left align=left BATalign=right
align=left align=left BATalign=right
align=left align=left BATalign=right
align=left align=left BATalign=right
align=left align=left AMPalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.
align=left align=left AMPalign=right
align=left align=left AMPalign=right
align=left align=left AMPalign=right
align=left align=left AMPalign=right
align=left align=left AMPalign=right
align=left align=left AMPalign=right
align=left align=left TRIalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment.
align=left align=left TRIalign=right
align=left align=left TRIalign=right
align=left align=left TRIalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.
align=left align=left KURalign=right align=left Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs.
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left KURalign=right
align=left align=left PUTalign=right align=left Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.
align=left align=left PUTalign=right
align=left align=left PUTalign=right
align=left align=left PUTalign=right
align=left align=left PUTalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Environment.
align=left align=left PUTalign=right
align=left align=left PUTalign=right
align=left align=left PUTalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right align=left Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation.
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left ANUalign=right
align=left align=left POLalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Housing.
align=left align=left POLalign=right
align=left align=left POLalign=right
align=left align=left POLalign=right
align=left align=left POLalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right align=left Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure.
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left BADalign=right
align=left align=left MONalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security.
align=left align=left MONalign=right
align=left align=left MONalign=right
align=left align=left MONalign=right
align=left align=left MONalign=right
align=left align=left MONalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right align=left Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure.
align=left align=left RATalign=right align=left Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left RATalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right align=left Minister of Environment.
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left KEGalign=right
align=left align=left NATLeader of the House.
Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation.
align=left align=left NATMinister of Urban Development, Housing and Construction.
align=left align=left NATMinister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment.
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Digital Economy.
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Defence.
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning.
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation.
align=left align=left NATMinister of Energy.
align=left align=left NATMinister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources.
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Sports.
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NATMinister of Sports and Youth Affairs.
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Tourism.
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NATalign=left Deputy Minister of Cooperative Development.
align=left align=left NAT
align=left TBDalign=left NATTBD
align=left TBDalign=left NATTBD
align=left TBDalign=left NATTBD
align=left TBD align=left NATTBD
align=left align=left NAT
align=left TBDalign=left NATTBD
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NAT
align=left align=left NAT

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Proclamation by the President . Department of Government Printing . The Gazette Extraordinary . 24 September 2024 . 17 October 2024 . 24 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240924191050/http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2024/9/2403-13_E.pdf . live.
  2. Web site: General election on November 14 . Daily Mirror . Balasuriya . Darshana Sanjeewa . 24 September 2024 . 17 October 2024. 24 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240924191638/https://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/General-election-on-November-14/155-292389 . live.
  4. Web site: Constitution of the D. S. R. of Sri Lanka (As amended up to 31st October 2022) . Parliament of Sri Lanka . 30 March 2023 . 17 October 2024 . 24 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240924132400/https://www.parliament.lk/files/pdf/constitution.pdf . live.
  5. Web site: Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981 . Parliament of Sri Lanka . 22 January 1981 . 27 November 2024 . 27 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127043557/https://www.parliament.lk/uploads/acts/gbills/english/2895.pdf . live.
  6. Web site: Presidential Election – 2024 . The Gazette Extraordinary . 22 September 2024 . 22 September 2024 . 22 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240922185105/http://www.documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2024/9/2402-26_E.pdf . live.
  7. Web site: Presidential Election Results – 2024 . Election Commission of Sri Lanka . 22 September 2024 . 26 October 2024 . 7 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241107044848/https://results.elections.gov.lk/pre2024/ . live.
  9. Web site: Record number of women elected to Sri Lankan Parliament in 2024 . Newswire . 16 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241118141459/https://www.newswire.lk/2024/11/16/record-number-of-women-elected-to-sri-lankan-parliament-in-2024/ . live.
  10. Web site: Sri Lanka's tenth Parliament to welcome over 150 fresh faces as MPs . Ada Derana . 17 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241118141943/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103564 . live.
  11. Web site: NPP names Visually Impaired Activist to Parliament . Newswire . 17 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241118143905/https://www.newswire.lk/2024/11/17/npp-names-visually-impaired-activist-to-parliament/ . live.
  12. Web site: Sri Lanka's first vision-impaired MP to receive special seating arrangement in Parliament . Ada Derana . 18 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . 18 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241118144036/https://www.adaderana.lk/news/103582/sri-lankas-first-vision-impaired-mp-to-receive-special-seating-arrangement-in-parliament- . live.
  13. Appointment of PM, cabinet ministers and assignment of duties:
  14. Appointment of deputy ministers:
  15. Web site: President seeks support of all to achieve successful new era . Daily Mirror . 23 November 2024 . 23 November 2024 . 23 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241123152950/https://www.ft.lk/opinion/President-seeks-support-of-all-to-achieve-successful-new-era/14-769564 . live.
  16. Web site: Sri Lanka's president makes U-turn on IMF bailout . The Hindu . 21 November 2024 . 23 November 2024 . 23 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241123153028/https://www.thehindu.com/business/sri-lankas-president-makes-u-turn-on-imf-bailout/article68893470.ece . live.
  17. Web site: Cabinet approval to present Vote on Account; 2025 Budget Speech on Feb.17 . Ada Derana . 26 November 2024 . 27 November 2024 . 27 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127031729/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103770 . live.
  18. Web site: Minister Bimal Rathnayake appointed as Leader of the House . Ada Derana . 19 November 2024 . 19 November 2024 . 19 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241119101953/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103613 . live.
  19. Web site: Nalinda Jayatissa appointed Chief Govt Whip . Ada Derana . 19 November 2024 . 20 November 2024 . 20 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241120044810/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103614 . live.
  20. Parliamentary officials and leaders:
    • For information on how the speaker is chosen: Web site: Inaugural session of Tenth Parliament: How the Speaker is chosen . Ada Derana . 19 November 2024 . 19 November 2024 . 19 November 2024 . https://archive.today/20241119055815/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103603 . live.
    • For the election of speaker: Web site: Asoka Ranwala appointed new Speaker of Parliament . Ada Derana . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241121062731/https://adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103655 . live.
    • For the election of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees: Web site: MP Rizvie Salih elected Deputy Speaker of Parliament . Ada Derana . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241121062708/https://adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103657 . live.
    • For recognising the Leader of the Opposition: : Web site: Sajith Premadasa named Opposition Leader of 10th Parliament . Ada Derana . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024 . 21 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241121071810/https://adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=103658 . live.
    • For the appointment of Chief Opposition Whip: Web site: Gayantha appointed Chief Opposition Whip . Daily Mirror . Perera . Yohan . Siriwardana . Ajith . 3 December 2024 . 3 December 2024 . 3 December 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241203202140/https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Gayantha-appointed-Chief-Opposition-Whip/108-297283 . live.

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