Sara had been subjected to 'acts of extreme cruelty' but Sharif and Batool had not shown 'a shred of remorse', says judge Cavanagh
world1 day ago
Sri Lanka will hold a parliamentary election on November 14, the government announced on Tuesday, less than two months after the Indian Ocean island nation elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake as its new president.
Below are five key reasons why Dissanayake, who won the presidential poll at the weekend, called a snap general election:
Ride momentum
Dissanayake polled 5.6 million votes, or 42.3 per cent, in Saturday's poll, a massive boost to the three per cent he managed in the last presidential election in 2019. His nearest rival, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, won 32.8 per cent.
The Marxist-leaning leader will hope to ride the same wave of approval and consolidate power in the 225-seat parliament.
Support from parliament
Dissanayake ran as a candidate for the National People's Power alliance, which includes his Janatha Vimukhti Peremuna (JVP) party. The coalition held just three seats in the current parliament elected in August 2020, prompting the new president to dissolve the legislature to try to strengthen his hand.
Despite his executive powers as president, fulfilling his pro-poor campaign promises of reducing taxes and freeing up public revenue for tax relief and investment will prove difficult without backing from parliament.
IMF programme
A four-year, $2.9 billion IMF bailout programme has helped Sri Lanka boost reserves, stem a fall in its currency and tame runaway inflation to kickstart a tentative economic recovery. But the austerity measures linked to the bailout angered many, who have pinned hopes of a better future on their next leader.
During campaigning, Dissanayake said he wanted to slash taxes and revisit the terms of the IMF bailout, promising to bring change for those reeling under the austerity measures. But passing a budget will be hard without support in parliament.
Debt rework
Sri Lanka is in the middle of restructuring about $25 billion foreign debt. Getting parliamentary support will strengthen Dissanayake's hand in negotiations with bondholders, who may in turn find policy clarity from the new president reassuring.
Cabinet numbers
The lack of numbers in parliament has also meant that Dissanayake was unable to name a fully-fledged cabinet of ministers after taking office on Monday.
He named Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister with five portfolios, while Vijitha Herath was given charge of six ministries, including foreign affairs. Dissanayake kept key ministries such finance, defence and energy to run himself.
Sara had been subjected to 'acts of extreme cruelty' but Sharif and Batool had not shown 'a shred of remorse', says judge Cavanagh
world1 day ago
The UNHCR Director said that some of those fleeing could be linked to the former government or else be religious minorities with concerns
world1 day ago
Rafah residents say Israeli tanks pushed deeper towards the western area of Mawasi, known as a humanitarian-designated area
world1 day ago
Kamal Adwan is one of the last operational medical facilities in the north of the war-ravaged territory, with the WHO warning earlier this month that it was operating at a 'minimum' level
world1 day ago
A tsunami warning was issued after the quake, with waves of up to one metre forecast for some areas, but it was soon lifted by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre
world1 day ago
Vanuatu's vulnerability to earthquakes has consistently ranked it as the most at risk country globally under the UN's World Risk Index
world1 day ago
First elected to parliament in 2013, the former journalist joined Trudeau's cabinet two years later when the Liberals swept to power
world2 days ago
Most areas in the city of Qusayr were off-limits to us, says 22-year-old resident Ali Khleif
world2 days ago