The 2024 parliamentary election has marked a historic transformation in Sri Lanka’s legislature, with nearly 150 out of the 196 elected Members of Parliament (MPs) being newcomers.
An impressive 146 MPs elected this year are first-time representatives in Parliament.
The National People’s Power (NPP) emerged as the dominant force, securing 141 parliamentary seats at the district level after a landslide victory in the General Election on November 14. Of these, 130 MPs are reported to be new to the Parliament.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) won 35 parliamentary seats, with eight of them being new MPs. In contrast, 27 of its elected members have previously served as parliamentarians.
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which saw a significant drop in public support, elected only one new MP this year. The Ilankei Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) secured six seats, three of which were won by newcomers. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) also welcomed one new member to Parliament.
Meanwhile, the New Democratic Front (NDF) gained three MP seats in this year’s election, all held by former parliamentarians.
In addition to the elected MPs, 29 national list seats are still to be finalized. Reports suggest that the majority of these appointees will also be newcomers, setting the stage for over 150 first-time MPs in the new Parliament.
