After electing the candidate of the National People's Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake as President on September 23, the people spoke again on November 14 by presenting a two-thirds majority and 159 seats to the NPP.
The massive mandate provided to the NPP is the largest to any political formation since Sri Lanka adopted the proportional representation system under its 1978 Constitution. The vote also torpedoed the decades-old divisions between the Tamils and Sinhalese as well as the Muslims and the Sinhalese, burying the many ghosts generated by a 26-year-old war unleashed by the Tamil Tigers.
For the first time in living memory, many Tamils and Muslims trusted their future to a majority Sinhala party—the NPP—to represent their interests in both parliament and government. Such a prospect was not considered to be in the realm of the possible even when Dissanayake was elected President less than two months earlier.
In September's presidential poll, Dissanayake's support from the north and east was insignificant but the story changed in November—the NPP won 12 out of 28 seats in the electoral districts of Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. It pushed the Tamil nationalist party, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi, down to eight seats.
This story is from the November 18, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 18, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I want to prove my critics wrong: Reddy
A day after he became the toast of a nation, Nitish Reddy showed just why he was here to stay.
FMCG cos step up rural recruits
India's consumer goods companies are on a hiring spree to cater to the emerging clout of the rural buyer, who has been the sector's saving grace this year amid rising material costs, shrinking margins, and increasing competition.
With economy ailing, German firms turn to 'sick leave detectives'
As Germany grapples with a sluggish economy, rising sick leave rates are adding to corporate woes.
Georgia's new president sworn in, complicating its path to EU
Georgia's path to EU membership hit a major roadblock last month when the ruling Georgian Dream party suspended accession talks, sparking widespread protests.
20 militants killed in Gaza hospital raid
Israel's military said on Sunday that forces had killed approximately 20 Palestinian militants and \"neutralised powerful explosive devices planted by the terrorists\" in a raid on a northern Gaza hospital, calling it one of its \"largest operations\" conducted in the territory.
‘Special place in heart for Kerala’: Outgoing guv
Outgoing governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday left Kerala after a controversial five year tenure, saying that the state will hold a \"very special place\" in his heart and his association with it is lifelong.
RETD IPS OFFICER KISHORE KUNALDIES; NITISH, YOGI CONDOLE DEMISE
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath on Sunday condoled the death of retired IPS officer and secretary of Patna's Mahavir Mandir Trust, Acharya Kishore Kunal.
Gender sensitive policing needed
Handling of the Anna University sexual assault underscores the gaps in tackling such crimes
Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister with a vision for nation's growth
With the reforms of 1991, former prime minister Manmohan Singh not only pulled India back from the brink of bankruptcy but also helped the country strut the global stage as a rising economic power.
Isro to launch two satellites today from Sriharikota
ISRO is set to launch two satellites on Monday night from the Sriharikota spaceport to demonstrate docking and undocking of spacecraft in orbit, which will make India the fourth country in the world to achieve the feat.
