(15 Nov 2024)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colombo, Sri Lanka – 15 November 2024
1. Wide of video journalists
2. Wide of press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Nihal Abesinghe, Secretary General, National People’s Power party (NPP):
“People have given us a huge victory and it’s historical. They have placed their trust on us and we believe that it’s a very, it’s a victory to the democratic process of the political system in this country."
4. Mid of journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (Sinhala) Tilvin Sila, Secretary General, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party (JVP):
“Although we never asked for a two-thirds majority, the truth is that the people have now given us power exceeding two-thirds. Therefore, we have a great responsibility, and it is crucial that we use this significant power we have been entrusted with wisely and cautiously."
6. Mid of journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (Sinhala) Tilvin Sila, Secretary General, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party (JVP):
“We must strive to build a better nation. Economic development, democracy, justice, and addressing the essential issues faced by the people are the challenges we have ahead of us. Already, we face significant challenges from both the government and President Anura Dissanayake’s side, including eradicating rural poverty. We also face the challenge of creating a clean Sri Lanka, building a disciplined and respectable country, and fostering a highly people-friendly political culture. Reviving the fallen economy, repaying debts, and creating a nation where our people can live with dignity are challenges that lie before us. We assure people that this power will be used to tackle and overcome these challenges. It will not be used to serve a political party or ourselves."
8. Wide of press conference
9. Various of Sri Lanka’s Parliament
STORYLINE:
The party of Sri Lanka’s new Marxist-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won a two-thirds majority in parliament, according to official election results Friday, providing a strong mandate for his program for economic revival.
Dissanayake’s National People’s Power Party won 159 of the 225 seats, according to the Elections Commission.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya, or United People’s Power Party, led by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had 40 seats and was in second place.
The election comes at a decisive time for Sri Lankans, as the island nation is struggling to emerge from the worst economic crisis in its history, having declared bankruptcy after defaulting on its external debt in 2022.
The margin of victory will enable Dissanayake to carry out sweeping reforms, including a campaign promise of a new constitution, without having to rely on other parties.
Dissanayake was elected president on Sept. 21 in a rejection of traditional political parties that have governed the island nation since its independence from British rule in 1948.
He received just 42% of the votes, fueling questions over his party’s prospects in Thursday’s parliamentary elections.
But the party received a large increase in support less than two months into his presidency.
In a major surprise and a big shift in the country’s electoral landscape, his party won the Jaffna district, the heartland of ethnic Tamils in the north, and many other minority strongholds.
The victory in Jaffna represents a great dent for traditional ethnic Tamil parties that have dominated the politics of the north since independence.
It is also a major shift in the attitude of Tamils, who have long been suspicious of majority ethnic Sinhalese leaders.
AP video by Jayampathi Palipane
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/9c6517a29e9c4710b8a74dbf5bcf3b6c
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in November 20, 2024, 3:05 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
