Sri Lanka - News Archive

Sri Lankan parliament considers local election reforms

Posted: 09/17/2010
Sri Lanka’s parliament will introduce a bill next month to change the electoral system for local elections. The bill would move the election of local bodies to a parallel system. Two thirds of seats would be allocated through in a first-past-the-post electoral system, and one third with proportional representation.

Source: ElectionGuide

Sri Lanka legislative polls close

Posted: 04/08/2010
Voting closes in Sri Lanka's general election, with the president seeking to strengthen his hold on power.

Read full story. Source: BBC News | World | UK Edition

UN Will Not Observe Sri Lankan Election

Posted: 01/07/2010
The United Nations does not have enough time to authorize or organize an election observation mission to Sri Lanka for the January 26 Presidential election, according to a statement this week by Secretary-General BAN Ki-moon's spokesman. The election, which comes two years ahead of schedule, follows last autumn’s end to 26 years of civil war between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger separatist organization.

Source: ElectionGuide

Tamil Participation Is Mixed In First Post-War Polls

Posted: 08/09/2009
Politicians from the former political wing of the Tamil Tigers claimed several seats in local elections in northern Sri Lanka last weekend. In Jaffna, where the national governing party won a majority of seats, however, turnout was as low as 23 percent, suggesting a boycott by many supporters of the former rebel group. The elections were the first in the region since a civil war ended there last spring. Area residents last elected local councils 11 years ago. On ending combat between the government and rebels, Sri Lankan President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA had promised a speedy return to self-government for the country’s Tamil minority.

Source: ElectionGuide

2 Sri Lankan town votes show split

Posted: 08/08/2009
Sri Lanka's ruling coalition and a pro-Tamil Tiger party have each scored victories in two municipal elections in towns near the island's recemt battlefields.

Read full story. Source: CBC | World News

Sri Lanka Sets Election Date In Former Rebel Territory

Posted: 05/25/2009
Voters in the formerly separatist north of Sri Lanka will elect representatives on August 8, according to a Monday announcement. The government sees prompt elections as critical to securing peace after the defeat of the Tamil Tigers. Until the death of their leader last week, the Tigers fought a three-decade civil war against Sri Lanka’s government.

Source: ElectionGuide

Sri Lanka Announces Results for Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 04/06/2004
Following her party’s parliamentary victory in the April 2 elections, President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA appointed Mahinda RAJAPAKSE as the new prime minister on April 6. Based on the results released by Sri Lanka’s Department of Elections, KUMARATUNGA’s United People’s Freedom Alliance won 105 of the 225 seats in parliament while the United National Party under former Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE came in second with 82 seats.  The new parliament is scheduled to convene on April 22, when it is expected to tackle the issue of peace negotiations with the Tamil Tigers, who have split into two factions since March.

Source: ElectionGuide

Sri Lanka Announces Parliamentary Election Date of April 2

Posted: 02/09/2004
On February 7, Sri Lankan President Chandrika KUMARATUNGA announced that parliamentary elections will take place four years ahead of schedule. The announcement is a culmination of months of jockeying between KUMARATUNGA and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESIGHE over the management of the country and the peace process between the government and the separatist Tamil Tigers. Once President KUMARATUNGA dissolves the 225-seat parliament, general elections will be held on April 2.

Source: ElectionGuide

Sri Lankan Parliament Makes Plans for New Constitutional Amendment

Posted: 08/20/2002
The parliament of Sri Lanka has made plans to present a new constitutional amendment, which would stop the president from dissolving the legislative body and issuing new elections. This move was made shortly after the Sri Lankan president denied any intention of dissolving parliament due to internal issues

Source: ElectionGuide

Sri Lanka Announces Preliminary Results of Parliamentary Elections

Posted: 12/07/2001
Preliminary results indicate that the United National Party (UNP) and its allies secured 114 seats in the December 5 general elections. The governing People's Alliance and allies are projected to win 93 seats.

Source: ElectionGuide

Go to top