President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) has achieved a landmark victory in the 2024 Parliamentary Election on Thursday, securing an impressive 159 seats and a commanding supermajority in Parliament.

Apart from emerging as the unifying force of Sri Lanka especially winning districts in North and East except Batticaloa, this election victory by NPP was one for the history books, breaking records and setting multiple historic milestones as the results unfolded.

Dissanayake’s NPP achieved the highest percentage ever obtained by a party in a General Election, securing 61.56% of the total vote, surpassing the previous record of 60.33% set by the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in 2010.

The NPP also made history by winning 152 electoral divisions, the highest number ever achieved in a General Election, surpassing the previous record of 136 electoral divisions by the UPFA.

The party’s victory extends beyond just electoral divisions as it also claimed victory in 21 out of 22 electoral districts, another record-breaking achievement, besting the 19 districts won by the UPFA in 2010.

With 6,863,186 votes, NPP has also secured the highest number of votes in a General Election, surpassing the 6,853,960 votes garnered by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in 2020.

The party secured the highest number of seats at the district level, winning 141 seats which is a significant increase from the 128 seats won by the SLPP in 2020. Additionally, the NPP achieved the most number of National List seats in a General Election with 18, surpassing the previous record of 17 seats by SLPP in 2020.

The NPP’s total seat count of 159 is also the highest ever won in a General Election, breaking the record previously held by the SLPP with 145 seats in 2020. This election marked the first time that a single party has secured over two-thirds of the 225 seats in Parliament under the proportional system, highlighting the unprecedented scale of the NPP’s victory.

In another significant achievement, it also became the only political party in the South to win the Jaffna Electoral District. It is also the first time in the country’s history that so many electoral records have been set, reflecting the transformative impact of the NPP’s win and the changing dynamics of Sri Lanka’s political landscape.

The performance of the opposition paled in comparison. The Main Opposition party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa secured just 40 seats down from the 54 it won in 2020 with many of its stalwarts failing to secure Parliamentary seats. SJB Colombo District Candidate Dr. Harsha de Silva was the only SJB MP able to increase his voter base compared to previous elections. The dismal performance of the party has now given rise to calls for a leadership change after Premadasa has faced defeat after defeat since forming the SJB in 2020.

The North-based Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) also suffered setbacks, as NPP made significant gains in their strongholds. The party however came in third having managed to obtain eight seats even though party strongman M.A. Sumanthiran failed to secure a seat.

The New Democratic Front (NDF), led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, also faced a disappointing outcome in the election despite his repeated calls to the people to elect those with experience who worked with him. None of the party’s cabinet ministers who contested were able to secure a seat. The NDF only managed to garner 500,835 votes, resulting in just five seats in Parliament.

The once dominant SLPP suffered a dramatic decline, securing only three seats in Parliament, a sharp contrast to the 145 seats it won in the 2020 General Election. The SLPP now holds just 3.17% of the total votes cast, signalling a significant shift in the political landscape.

The SLMC gained three seats while the United National Party (UNP), National Democratic Alliance (NDA), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Sarvajana Balaya (SB), and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) along with several other parties won a seat each.

Debutant Dilith Jayaweera of Sarvajana Balaya alliance who contested from the Gampaha district will enter Parliament via sole seat from the National List by virtue of 178,000 votes obtained nationally.

The Ministry of Health has initiated an investigation into the tragic death of a pregnant woman and her unborn child at the Mannar District General Hospital. According to police reports, the deceased, a 27-year-old resident of Mannar, was admitted to the hospital for childbirth on Monday night. In addition, the Mannar Police have also launched their own investigations into the incident.

The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) of the Parliamentary Opposition expressed hope for power devolution, land rights including the release of military-occupied private land, and justice for alleged war era crimes which stem from the conflict, following the election of a new Government.

The Secretary-General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadheera clarified that a Member of Parliament is not paid a salary but is entitled to an allowance.

Former Minister Harin Fernando, arrested this morning (20) by the Badulla Police for alleged election law violations, has been granted bail. He was ordered to provide two surety bails of Rs. 500,000 each.

The controversy surrounding the nomination of Ravi Karunanayake as an MP on the National List representing the New Democratic Front (NDF) is beyond the control of the Election Commission, according to its chairman.

Former State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, also known as Pilleyan, arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) this morning (20) to provide a statement. He arrived to provide a statement regarding the controversial Channel 4 documentary on the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said yesterday that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to visit India in mid-December for his maiden state visit.

Minister Bimal Rathnayake has been appointed as the Leader of the House while Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has been appointed as Chief Government Whip, the Government said.

The first Cabinet meeting of the new government was held today (19) at the Presidential Secretariat under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. During the meeting, Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, was appointed as the Cabinet Spokesman for the new government.

The outbreak of Meningococcal disease at the Sri Lanka Army Recruit Training School in Vedditalativu is under control, Director of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) said.

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and former Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa today claimed that organizations like the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) have come forward to demand racist, religious and separatist demands.

Security was increased this morning outside the official residence of former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake in Battaramulla, anticipating protests over the gazetting of his name for one of the two National List seats.

resident Anura Kumara Dissanayake has retained the Ministries of Defence, Finance and Economic Development and the Digital Economy. The new cabinet of 22 ministers was sworn in this morning at the Presidential Secretariat.

Claiming that MPs and Ministers have more powers, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he expects that all Ministers will know the limits of their powers and act with accountability.

The Ministry of Education has announced that the first stage of the third school term will conclude on Friday, November 22. Schools across the country will close for holidays from November 23, 2024, to January 1, 2025. The Ministry also noted that the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination will take place during this period. The second stage of the third term is scheduled to commence on January 2 and will run until January 17.

The Supreme Court today issued an interim order suspending the release of results of the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination held on September 15. The Supreme Court made this order pursuant to the Fundamental Rights petitions filed by several students along with their parents, seeking an order to cancel the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination.

The New Democratic Front (NDF) has nominated Ravi Karunanayake for its national List seat won by the party at the general election 2024.

Twenty-five recruits have been hospitalized, with one in critical condition, and over 450 soldiers placed under quarantine following a fever outbreak at the Sri Lanka Army Recruit Training School in Vedditalativu.

Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) decides to nominate Dr. P. Sathiyalingam as the party’s National List Member of Parliament.

Cabinet Ministers of the new government to be sworn in by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at 10 am tomorrow, November 18, at the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said.