| New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.

Presidential-Parliamentary

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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral

Unicameral

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IPU membership Current membership status

Yes

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Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.

17.08.2015

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.

26.06.2015

Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections

Delayed elections

Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.

31.08.2021

Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.

225

Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.

Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".

6,151

Number of male candidates Number of male candidates

5,595

Number of female candidates Number of female candidates

556

The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.

Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.

9.04%

Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.

Notes

Number of parties contesting the election: 12 political parties and 24 independent groups

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote

15,044,490

Votes Number of people who actually voted

11,684,111

Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote

77.66%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) won the elections as the largest party in a coalition known as the United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG, see note). The UNFGG took 11 more seats than the opposition coalition, the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), led by former President Mahinda Rajapakse. The UPFA includes the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which is headed by incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena. Despite belonging to an opposition coalition, some SLFP members opposed Mr. Rajapakse and allied themselves to the governing coalition, the UNFGG. During the elections, the major parties promised good governance, transparency, economic progress and stability in the country. On 21 August, Mr. Wickremasinghe was sworn in as the Prime Minister. Later that day, the UNP and the SLFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a new government. The two parties agreed to work together for at least two years. The 46-member Cabinet, formed in September, comprises 33 ministers from the UNFGG and 13 ministers from the SLFP. The 2015 elections were the first to be held under President Sirisena, the former health minister, who defeated the long-serving President Rajapaksa in presidential elections, held in January 2015. In keeping with the new President's electoral promise, Parliament passed the 19th amendment to the Constitution on 28 April 2015. In particular the amendment re-introduced a two-term limit for each President (lifted in 2010 under President Rajapaksa) and removed the President's power to dissolve Parliament until it has completed four-and-a-half years of its five-year term. Before the amendments, the President could dissolve Parliament after only one year. Note: The UNFGG included the UNP, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) as well as SLFP members who opposed former President Rajapakse.

Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.

Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.

16.67%

Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.

47.11%

Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.

Not applicable

Note on the alternation of power

Presidential system.

Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties

United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), a faction of the SLP opposing former President Rajapakse, Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) and Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group	Total	Constituency seats	National seats
United National Party (UNP)	106	93	13
United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA)	95	83	12
Lanka Tamil State Party (Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, ITAK)	16	14	2
People's Liberation Front (JVP)	6	4	2
Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP)	1	1	0
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)	1	1	0

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected

214

Number of women elected

Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.

4.89%

Other notes

Number of parties in government: 6. The government also includes a faction of the SLP opposing former President Rajapakse.

Sources

Parliament (24.08.2015, 09.09.2015, 11.09.2015, 07.01.2016) International Crisis Group BBC

Women Directly Elected

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.

214

Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.

First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.

Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.

01.09.2015

First Speaker of the new legislature

First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.

Karu Jayasuriya (Male)

Political party

United National Party (UNP)

Date of election

01.09.2015