Colombo, Sep 25 (V7N)-  Sri Lanka's newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has dissolved the country's current parliament, paving the way for early elections. The dissolution was officially announced on Tuesday through a gazette notification, with parliamentary elections scheduled for November 14, 2024. The new session of parliament will convene on November 21, allowing the formation of a new government almost a year ahead of schedule.

The last parliamentary elections were held in August 2020. The current 225-seat parliament had only three seats occupied by Dissanayake's party, the National People's Power (NPP). His decision to dissolve parliament follows his recent victory in Sri Lanka’s first presidential election since the economic and political turmoil of 2022, which led to the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Dissanayake, known for his anti-corruption and poverty alleviation policies, has garnered significant public support in recent years. He was elected by direct vote and took the presidential oath on Monday, replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been running the government since the 2022 crisis. Analysts view Dissanayake’s victory as a clear rejection of the corruption and nepotism that plagued previous administrations.

The upcoming parliamentary elections are seen as a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka as it seeks stability and economic recovery under Dissanayake’s leadership.

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