President Anura Kumara Dissanayake concluded his campaign for the upcoming Thursday parliamentary elections by promising economic consolidation under his leadership. The snap election was called after Dissanayake’s victory in the September polls, where he vowed to combat corruption and address Sri Lanka’s economic challenges.
The National People’s Power (NPP), the Marxist-led political group, is pushing for a fully empowered assembly to enact anti-corruption policies, blaming politicians from major parties who have governed Sri Lanka since 1948. Since taking office, the government has reopened several past corruption cases.
However, Dissanayake’s administration has faced criticism for not reversing some of the controversial economic reforms imposed during President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s term. At his final rally, Dissanayake promised that his new government’s budget, due in March, would include significant cuts to the pay-as-you-earn tax, a move opposed by the previous government due to IMF bailout conditions.
Wickremesinghe, who lost to Dissanayake in the September presidential election, is not contesting the parliamentary polls for the first time since 1977. Dissanayake’s government now faces the challenge of meeting IMF revenue targets as part of the USD 2.9 billion program. The IMF’s third review is expected just after the election, with completion set for February.
Dissanayake emphasized that November 14 would mark the end of a 75-year era of ruling class dominance since Sri Lanka’s independence. While NPP has gained 42% of the national vote in the presidential election, analysts warn that it may struggle to secure the 113 seats needed for a majority in the 225-member parliament.
The Rajapaksa family, long dominant in Sri Lankan politics, will not contest these elections, signaling a major shift in the country’s political landscape.
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