Sri Lanka's New President Calls Snap Polls, Dissolves Parliament

Sri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has dissolved the parliament, with elections set for November 14. Dissanayake aims to push through his National People's Power reform agenda with a new assembly, marking a swift power transition following the presidential election. The decision aligns with his campaign promise.

Sri Lanka's newly appointed President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has promptly ordered the dissolution of parliament via a special gazette notification, effective from midnight on Tuesday. The move sets the stage for a snap election on November 14. This fulfills one of Dissanayake's key promises during the presidential race.

Dissanayake was sworn in on Monday, becoming the country's ninth president, shortly after Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned as part of a power transition. He has since appointed his cabinet of four ministers, including the new Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Both Vijitha Herath and Laxman Nipunarachchi have also been brought into the caretaker cabinet.

The election is estimated to cost around Rs. 11 billion, according to the Election Commission, which confirmed its readiness to proceed. Dissanayake's win, marked by his anti-corruption stance and appeal to younger voters, resonated amid the backdrop of the country's recent economic upheavals. He defeated Sajith Premadasa in a closely watched race, securing 5.74 million votes compared to Premadasa's 4.53 million.

(With inputs from agencies.)