Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced the dissolution of parliament to facilitate a snap general election in the economically troubled nation, as stated in a government gazette notification.
The parliamentary election is scheduled for November 14, with the new parliament set to convene on November 21.
The last general election in Sri Lanka took place in August 2020, where lawmakers are elected for a five-year term.
Dissanayake was elected in a weekend presidential election, positioning the Marxist-leaning politician to play a significant role in shaping the future reforms of the country, which is gradually recovering from a severe financial crisis.
However, his coalition, the National Peoples Party, currently holds only three out of 225 seats in the existing parliament, prompting him to dissolve the legislature in pursuit of a fresh mandate for his policies.
In a government gazette notification, it was confirmed that the newly elected parliament will convene on November 21. Dissanayake, who recently won the presidential election, is affiliated with the National Peoples Party, which currently holds a minimal presence in the legislature with only three out of 225 seats. This lack of representation has likely influenced his decision to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate.