Wed Sep 25 03:43:00 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka’s New President Dissolves Parliament, Calls for Early Elections
**COLOMBO, SRI LANKA** – Sri Lanka’s newly elected President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has dissolved Parliament and called for snap elections on November 14th, just two months after his victory. This move aims to solidify his power, as his party currently holds only three seats in the 225-member Parliament.
The dissolution comes shortly after President Dissanayake appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the country’s first female Prime Minister in 24 years. Amarasuriya, a university lecturer and activist, will also oversee four other ministries, including Justice, Health, Women, Trade, and Industries.
President Dissanayake’s win marked a rejection of the old political guard, blamed for the country’s unprecedented economic crisis. His first major challenge will be to ease the austerity measures imposed by his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, as part of an IMF bailout agreement.
The election is expected to be a significant test for President Dissanayake and his National People’s Power coalition. It will determine if they can gain control of the legislature and implement their plans for economic recovery.
Sri Lanka’s politics have historically been dominated by men, with few women in leadership positions. Amarasuriya’s appointment as Prime Minister marks a significant step towards gender equality in Sri Lankan politics.
First Piper 