Campaigning for Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections has already begun, and significant changes have occurred. Many long-standing parliament members have chosen not to run for election this year.
This shift can be attributed to the anti-government movement following the country’s economic downturn. One of the public’s demands is for all 225 parliament members to step down from politics.
The first time a left-wing party has come into power
The people suffered greatly due to economic problems, electricity cuts, and shortages of essential commodities. In response, millions took to the streets for several months to oust the government, including President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
As a result of this movement, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, representing the National People’s Power led by Janatha Vimukti Peramuna, who had a 3% vote share in the last presidential election, was appointed President of the country, marking the first time a left-wing political party gained power in Sri Lanka.
The new President promptly dissolved the Parliament, and an election is scheduled for the 14th of next month. The process of accepting related nominations was completed on the 11th, and now political parties have begun their campaigns more actively.
Former Presidents who withdrew from the election
A significant aspect of this year’s parliamentary elections is that many MPs who previously served in Parliament did not run for re-election.
Former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, and Ranil Wickremesinghe have all announced that they will not contest this election.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, a prominent political figure, has been elected as Executive President twice and first entered Parliament in 1970. In the 2020 parliamentary general election, he contested from the Kurunegala district and received the highest number of votes ever for a member of Parliament, with 527364 votes.
Additionally, none of the members of the Rajapaksa family, including Chamal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, are participating in this election. Namal Rajapaksa has included his name on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna national list.
Notably, after 88 years, none of the Rajapaksas, a powerful political family in Sri Lanka, are contesting a parliamentary election.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s name was included in a fundamental rights petition filed before the Supreme Court, alleging that he was responsible for the country’s economic crisis in 2022.
Maithripala Sirisena, who was elected President in 2015, ran for Parliament in the 2020 election from the Polonnaruwa district and was elected with 111137 votes.
However, he was accused of failing to prevent the 2019 Easter bomb attack and was subsequently ordered to pay a large amount of compensation.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision
In 2022, Ranil Wickramasinghe succeeded Gotabhaya Rajapaksa as President. However, he has decided not to run in the upcoming parliamentary general election.
In the 2020 parliamentary general election, Wickramasinghe contested from the Colombo district and received only 30875 votes. Despite this, the United National Party gained one Member of Parliament from the national list, and Wickramasinghe took oath as a Member of Parliament based on that representation.
Having been a continuous member of Parliament since 1977, Wickramasinghe will not be seen in the next month’s Parliament as he has announced that he will not contest the general election.
In addition, Patali Champika Ranawaka, who supported Sajith Premadasa in the last presidential election as part of the Samagi Janabalawega, has also decided not to run in the upcoming election. Ranawaka cited violating an agreement made with Samagi Jana balawagaya as the reason for his decision.
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka
Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who ran in the last presidential election, will not be in this year’s election. He has represented Parliament multiple times and ran for President in 2010 and 2024.
In 2010, he was a strong candidate and received support from various groups, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, led by current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the United National Party.
Sarath Fonseka ran as a common candidate in 2010, posing a solid challenge to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Former Prime Minister Dinesh from the national list
Former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has chosen not to run in this year’s general election. However, his name has been included in the national list under the gas cylinder symbol.
Additionally, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the former speaker of the last Parliament, will not be contesting this year’s general election. He has also been confirmed for representation on the national list under the gas cylinder symbol.
Former minister Bandula Gunawardena is a strongman who will not contest this year’s general election.
Former ministers Prasanna Ranatunga and Ali Sabri have also decided not to contest this year’s general election.
Meanwhile, C.B. Ratnayake, Gamini Lokage, Lakshman Kiriella, Bandula Gunawardena, Siripala Gamlath, Shan Vijayalal de Silva, Wimal Weerawansa, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Vijayadasa Rajapaksa, Wimalaweera, S.b. Dissanayake, Janaka Bandara Tennakone, W.D. J.Senaviratne, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, CV.Wigneswaran, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Gevidu Kumaratunga, Shehan Semasinghe, SB Dissanayake, Kanaka Herath, Geetha Kumarasinghe, Lohan Ratwatte, Sudath Manjula, Udayakanta Gunathilaka and Karunadasa Kodituvakku. It has been decided not to contest the parliamentary elections.
Several other strong figures who were not part of the previous Parliament have chosen not to run in this election, including Karu Jayasuriya, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Palitha Range Bandara, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, and Naveen Dissanayake.
Former Minister of State for Finance’s announcement
Former Minister of State for Finance Shehan Semasinghe announced that he will not contest the upcoming parliamentary elections. He emphasised that addressing the country’s economic crisis is a crucial task for the government.
He mentioned that his responsibilities in dealing with the economic situation have limited his involvement in party politics. Additionally, he expressed disappointment at the people’s rejection of his political agenda, as evidenced by the results of the presidential election.
A group of strongmen from the national list
Meanwhile, Namal Rajapaksa, Ranjith Maddumabandara, Sagara Kariyawasam, Tissa Kuttiarachchi, Gamini Lokage, Tiran Alas, Jayantha Weerasinghe, Suren Raghavan, Talatha Athukorala, C.B. Rathnayake, Jayantha Katagoda, Dallas Alahapperuma, Imtiaz Bakir Makar, G.L. Peiris, and Sudarshanee Fernandopulle have been listed in the national list from the parties Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, New Democratic Front, and Samagi Jana Balawegaya without contesting this year’s general election.
Why do strongmen avoid elections?
Several leading causes of this condition can be identified. The first issue is the uncertainty created regarding victory in the upcoming elections.
Some people consider the second point to be the inability to align with a solid political current suitable for competing in the election. Opinions are also being expressed regarding the disadvantageous situation that may arise in a parliament formed in this context.
There is a possibility of a shortage of experienced representatives in the Parliament. However, political analysts point out that the upcoming parliamentary elections may signal social, cultural, and political transformation.
With the victory of the National People’s Power candidate Mr. Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the 2024 presidential election, a strong transformation is taking place in politics, and the departure of many strongmen who represented the Parliament can be recognised as a unique feature.