15th Parliament of Sri Lanka
| 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| File:The Parliament of Sri Lanka.jpg | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Parliament of Sri Lanka | ||||
| Meeting place | Sri Lankan Parliament Building | ||||
| Term | 1 September 2015 – | ||||
| Election | 17 August 2015 | ||||
| Website | parliament | ||||
| Parliamentarians | |||||
| Members | 225 | ||||
| Speaker | Karu Jayasuriya (UNP) | ||||
| Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees | Thilanga Sumathipala (SLFP) | ||||
| Deputy Chairman of Committees | Selvam Adaikalanathan (TELO) | ||||
| Prime Minister | Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP) | ||||
| Leader of the Opposition | R. Sampanthan (ITAK) | ||||
| Leader of the House | Lakshman Kiriella (UNP) | ||||
| Chief Government Whip | Gayantha Karunathilaka (UNP) | ||||
| Chief Opposition Whip | Anura Kumara Dissanayaka (JVP) | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
| |||||
The 15th Parliament of Sri Lanka is the current Parliament of Sri Lanka, with the membership determined by the results of the 2015 parliamentary election held on 17 August 2015. The parliament met for the first time on 1 September 2015. According to the Constitution of Sri Lanka the maximum term of parliament is 5 years therefore the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka will meet for the first time no later than 1 September 2020.
Election
UNFGG in
UPFA in
TNA in
The 15th parliamentary election was held on 17 August 2015.[1][2][3][4] The incumbent United National Party (UNP) led United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG) won 106 seats, an increase of 46 since the 2010 election, but failed to secure a majority in Parliament.[5] The main opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 95 seats, a decline of 49.[5][6] The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest party representing Sri Lankan Tamils, won 16 seats, an increase of two from 2010.[5] The remaining eight seats were won by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (6), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (1) and Eelam People's Democratic Party (1).[7]
Results
Template:Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2015 The new parliament was sworn in on 1 September 2015.[8] Karu Jayasuriya was elected Speaker, Thilanga Sumathipala as the Deputy Speaker and Selvam Adaikalanathan as the Deputy Chairman of Committees.[9][10] Lakshman Kiriella was appointed Leader of the House and Gayantha Karunathilaka was appointed Chief Government Whip.[11][12]
The Speaker recognised TNA leader R. Sampanthan as Leader of the Opposition on 3 September 2015.[13][14] JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka was nominated to be Chief Opposition Whip.[15][16]
The Parliament became a Constitutional Assembly on 9 March 2016 in order to formulate a new constitution for Sri Lanka.[17]
Government
On 20 August 2015 the central committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the main constituent of the UPFA, agreed to form a national government with the UNP for two years.[18][19] Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Prime Minister on 21 August 2015.[20][21] Immediately afterwards a memorandum of understanding to work together in Parliament was signed by acting SLFP general secretary Duminda Dissanayake and UNP general secretary Kabir Hashim.[22][23] On 3 September Parliament voted by 143 votes (101 UNFGG, 40 UPFA, 1 EPDP, 1 SLMC) to 16 votes (11 UPFA, 5 JVP), with 63 absent (43 UPFA, 16 TNA, 3 UNFGG, 1 JVP), to approve the formation of a national government.[24][25]
Three UNFGG cabinet ministers were sworn in on 24 August 2015.[26][27] A further 39 cabinet ministers, 28 from the UNFGG and 11 from the UPFA, were sworn in on 4 September 2015.[28][29] Three more cabinet ministers, one from the UNFGG and two from the UPFA, were sworn in on 9 September 2015.[30][31] 19 state ministers (11 UNFGG, 8 UPFA) and 21 deputy ministers (11 UNFGG, 10 UPFA) were also sworn in on 9 September 2015.[32][33] Two more deputy ministers, both from the UPFA, were sworn in on 10 September 2015.[34][35] A further cabinet minister from the UPFA was sworn in on 23 October 2015.[36][37] A further cabinet minister from the UNFGG was sworn in on 25 February 2016.[38][39][40] A UPFA state minister and two deputy ministers (one UNFGG, one UPFA) were sworn in on 6 April 2016.[41][42]
Legislation
- 2015
| No. | Act | Certified | Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/2015 | Inland Revenue (Amendment) Act 2015 | 30 October | [1] |
| 10/2015 | Finance Act Act 2015 | 30 October | [2] |
| 11/2015 | Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act 2015 | 30 October | [3] |
| 12/2015 | Nation Building Tax (Amendment) Act 2015 | 30 October | [4] |
| 13/2015 | Economic Service Charge (Amendment) Act 2015 | 30 October | [5] |
| 14/2015 | Betting & Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act 2015 | 30 October | [6] |
- 2016
| No. | Act | Certified | Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2016 | Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act 2016 | 17 February | [7] |
| 2/2016 | Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act 2016 | 17 February | [8] |
| 3/2016 | National Minimum Wage of Workers Act 2016 | 23 March | [9] |
| 4/2016 | Budgetary Relief Allowance of Workers Act 2016 | 23 March | [10] |
| 5/2016 | Prescription (Special Provisions) Act 2016 | 26 April | [11] |
| 6/2016 | Microfinance Act 2016 | 20 May | [12] |
| 7/2016 | Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Agreement (Ratification) Act 2016 | 30 May | [13] |
Composition
The following are the changes in party and alliance affiliations for the 15th parliament.
| Date | Government | Opposition | Speaker | Vacant | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 August 2015 | 106 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 225 |
| 1 September 2015 | 105 | 119 | 1 | 0 | 225 |
| 3 September 2015 | 147 | 76 | 1 | 1 | 225 |
| 9 September 2015 | 150 | 73 | 1 | 1 | 225 |
| 10 September 2015 | 152 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 225 |
| 15 September 2015 | 152 | 70 | 1 | 2 | 225 |
| 22 September 2015 | 152 | 72 | 1 | 0 | 225 |
| 23 October 2015 | 153 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 225 |
| 19 January 2016 | 151 | 71 | 1 | 2 | 225 |
| 26 January 2016 | 152 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 225 |
| 9 February 2016 | 153 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 225 |
| 6 April 2016 | 154 | 70 | 1 | 0 | 225 |
Light shading indicates majority (113 seats or more); dark shading indicates two-thirds majority (150 seats or more); no shading indicates minority government.
The 15th parliament saw a number of defections and counter-defections:
- 3 September 2015 - 41 UPFA and 1 SLMC MPs support the formation of a national government.[43]
- 9 September 2015 - Three UPFA MPs (Indika Bandaranaike, Sumedha G. Jayasena and Lakshman Wasantha Perera) who had abstained from supporting the national government, are appointed deputy ministers.[32][33]
- 10 September 2015 - Two UPFA MPs (Anuradha Jayaratne, Dushmantha Mithrapala) who had abstained from supporting the national government, are appointed deputy ministers.[34][35]
- 23 October 2015 - UPFA MP Sarath Amunugama is appointed to the cabinet.[36][37]
- 6 April 2016 - UPFA MP Lakshman Senewiratne is appointed a state minister.[41][42]
- 30 June 2016 - Democratic Party MP Sarath Fonseka joins the UNP.[44][45]
Members
Deaths and resignations
The 15th parliament saw the following deaths and resignations:
- 3 September 2015 - Sarath Chandrasiri Mayadunne (JVP-NAT) resigned.[46][47] His replacement Bimal Rathnayaka (JVP-NAT) was sworn in on 22 September 2015.[48][49]
- 15 September 2015 - Chamara Sampath Dassanayake (UPFA-BAD) resigned to become Chief Minister of Uva Province.[50][51] His replacement Lakshman Senewiratne (UPFA-BAD) was sworn in on 22 September 2015.[48][49]
- 19 January 2016 - M. K. A. D. S. Gunawardana (UNFGG-NAT) died.[52][53] His replacement Sarath Fonseka (UNFGG-NAT) was sworn in on 9 February 2016.[54][55][56]
- 19 January 2016 - A. R. A. Hafeez (UNFGG-NAT) resigned.[57][58] His replacement M. S. Thowfeek (UNFGG-NAT) was sworn in on 26 January 2016.[59][60]
List
Notes
References
- ^ "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Proclamations & C., by the President A PROCLAMATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1920/38. 26 June 2015.
- ^ "Sri Lanka's president dissolves parliament". BBC News. 26 June 2015.
- ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (26 June 2015). "Sri Lankan Parliament dissolved". The Hindu.
- ^ "Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves parliament". Times of Oman. Agence France-Presse. 26 June 2015.
- ^ a b c "Bonus seats: UNP 13, UPFA 12". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 18 August 2015.
- ^ "Sri Lanka elections: UNP victory as Rajapaksa faces setback". BBC News. 18 August 2015.
- ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (18 August 2015). "UNP set to form next government". The Hindu.
- ^ "Front Row Seat for MR". Ceylon Today. 2 September 2015. p. A2.
- ^ "Karu appointed new Speaker". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Thilanga appointed Deputy Speaker". Ceylon Today. 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Thilanga appointed Deputy Speaker". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Gayantha and Kiriella return to office". Ceylon Today. 1 September 2015.
- ^ "Sampanthan new opposition leader". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 3 September 2015.
- ^ "R. Sampanthan appointed Opposition Leader". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 3 September 2015.
- ^ "JVP leader's name proposed for Chief Opposition Whip". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 3 September 2015.
- ^ Marasinghe, Sandasen; Range, Irangika; Mudalige, Disna (4 September 2015). "Anura K. tipped to be Chief Opposition Whip". Daily News (Sri Lanka).
- ^ http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34501/resolution-on-constitutional-assembly-passed-in-parliament
- ^ Edirisinghe, Dasun (21 August 2015). "SLFP CC for joining national government". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ Bandara, Kelum (20 August 2015). "SLFP agrees to join National Govt". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
- ^ Liyanawatte, Dinuka (21 August 2015). "Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lankan prime minister". Reuters.
- ^ Ramakrishnan, T. (21 August 2015). "Ranil Wickremesinghe sworn in as Sri Lankan Prime Minister". The Hindu.
- ^ "UNP and SLFP sign MoU". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 21 August 2015.
- ^ "SLFP & UNP sign MoU to form National Govt". Sri Lanka Guardian. 21 August 2015.
- ^ Hemmathagama, Ashwin (4 September 2015). "Cabinet gets P'ment approval". Daily FT.
- ^ Indrajith, Saman (4 September 2015). "Parliament approves expansion of Cabinet from 30 to 48". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ "Three Cabinet Ministers sworn in". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Three ministers sworn –in today". Ceylon Today. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "New Cabinet". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 4 September 2015.
- ^ "The new Cabinet". Ceylon Today. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Three more Cabinet ministers appointed". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 9 September 2015.
- ^ "Another defeated SLFPer appointed cabinet minister". The Island (Sri Lanka). 10 September 2015.
- ^ a b "New State and Deputy Ministers". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 9 September 2015.
- ^ a b "State and Deputy Ministers take oaths (Updated Full List)". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 9 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Two more Dy. Ministers sworn in". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 10 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Two more Deputy Ministers sworn in". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 10 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Dr. Sarath Amunugama sworn in as Minister". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 24 October 2015.
- ^ a b Fernando, Tharushan (23 October 2015). "Dr. Amunugama sworn in as Minister for Special Assignments". News First.
- ^ "Sarath Fonseka sworn in as Sri Lanka minister". Arab News. Reuters. 26 February 2016.
- ^ "SF Regional Development Minister". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 25 February 2016.
- ^ "Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka sworn in as Regional Development Minister". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 26 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Two deputy ministers and a state minister appointed". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 6 April 2016.
- ^ a b Jabbar, Zacki (7 April 2016). "Three more ministers". The Island (Sri Lanka).
- ^ "Hansard of September 03, 2015" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka.
- ^ "Fonseka joins UNP, becomes Kelaniya organizer". Daily FT. 1 July 2016.
- ^ "Ex-Lanka army chief Fonseka joins ruling UNP". India Today. Press Trust of India. 30 June 2016.
- ^ "JVP MP Mayadunne resigns". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 3 September 2015.
- ^ "Sarath Mayadunne resigns". Ceylon Today. 3 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Three MPs take oaths today". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 22 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Three new MPs swear in". Ceylon Today. 22 September 2015.
- ^ "Uva gets a new chief". Ceylon Today. 15 September 2015. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Chamara Sampath Dassanayake new Uva CM". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 15 September 2015.
- ^ Riza, Shaahidah (20 January 2016). "M.K.D.S. no more". Ceylon Today. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Minister M.K.A.D.S Gunawardana passes away". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 19 January 2016.
- ^ "SF takes oaths as a MP". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 9 February 2016.
- ^ "Field Marshal to the parliament". Ceylon Today. 9 February 2016.
- ^ http://www.adaderana.lk/news/34116/fonseka-takes-oath-as-mp
- ^ Perera, Yohan (19 January 2016). "UNP MP Hafeez resigns". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
- ^ "UNP MP Hafeez resigns". adaderana.lk. 19 January 2016.
- ^ "Thowfeek sworn in as MP". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 26 January 2016.
- ^ "M.S Thowfeek takes oath as MP". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 26 January 2016.
Sources
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS ACT, No. 1 OF 1981" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1928/03. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION — 2015 Declaration under Article 99A of the Constitution" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1928/25. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1929/02. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION — 2015 Declaration under Article 99A of the Constitution" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1929/04. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1929/15. 26 August 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1932/07. 14 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1932/69. 18 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
- "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Appointments & c., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. 1933/17. 22 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
- Jayakody, Pradeep (28 August 2015). "The Comparison of Preferential Votes in 2015 & 2010". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
- "Ranil tops with over 500,000 votes in Colombo". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 19 August 2015.
- "Preferential Votes". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "JVP names Handunnetti and Mayadunne through National List". The Nation (Sri Lanka). 20 August 2015.
- "UNP national list". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 21 August 2015.
- "UPFA finalises National list". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 21 August 2015.
- "TNA names its national List MPs". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). 24 August 2015.