The 17th Parliament of Sri Lanka, known officially as the 10th Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is the current Parliament of Sri Lanka, with its membership determined by the results of the 2024 parliamentary election held on 14 November 2024. The parliament met for the first time on 21 November 2024.* For the proclamation by the President: For news media coverage of the proclamation: For the presentation of the government's policy: For the revised schedule for presenting the government's policy:
According to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the term of the Parliament is 5 years. However, under Article 70 of the Constitution and Section 10 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, the President of Sri Lanka may dissolve parliament after two years and six months from its first sitting or upon receiving a resolution from parliament. This signifies that the president will possess the constitutional authority to dissolve parliament by decree, effective from 21 May 2027.
Timeline + Key dates Date Day Event Ref. 21 September 2024 Saturday Anura Kumara Dissanayake is elected as president at the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election. 24 September 2024 Tuesday President Dissanayake dissolved the 16th parliament and called for a parliamentary election. 14 November 2024 Thursday Election day. 21 November 2024 Thursday 13 December 2024 Friday Asoka Ranwala resigns as Speaker of Parliament. 17 December 2024 Tuesday Jagath Wickramaratne unanimously elected as Speaker of Parliament.
Recent changes in seat allocations
Election
The National People's Power (NPP) secured a historic landslide victory in the parliamentary election, winning 61.65% of the popular vote and a supermajority of 159 seats—the largest number ever won by a single party in Sri Lanka's history. The NPP, led by newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, achieved the second-highest proportion of seats in the nation's history and won every district except Batticaloa. This marked the first election since 1977 where a single party obtained a supermajority, and the first time a non-Tamil political party won the Jaffna Electoral District.* For new election records: For the coverage by BBC: For the coverage by Frontline/The Hindu: For the coverage by Al Jazeera:
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) became the main opposition, securing 17.66% of the vote and 40 seats, a significant reduction. Other results included the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) winning 8 seats, the New Democratic Front (NDF) securing 5, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) suffering a drastic decline to just 3 seats from the 145 it held previously.
This election also set records for women's representation, with 21 female MPs elected, the highest in Sri Lanka's history, and saw over 150 first-time MPs entering the legislature.
The NPP nominated Sugath Wasantha de Silva through the national list to be appointed as a Member of Parliament. This marks a significant milestone in Sri Lankan politics, as de Silva is the first visually impaired person to be elected to parliament. A special seating arrangement will be made to accommodate his specific needs.
Results National
District
Presiding officers and parliamentary leaders Bimal Rathnayake and Nalinda Jayatissa of the National People's Power (NPP) were appointed as Leader of the House and Chief Government Whip, respectively, on 19 November 2024 by the President.Appointments: For Leader of the House: For Chief Government Whip:
At the inaugural meeting of the new parliament on 21 November 2024, Asoka Ranwala, Rizvie Salih, and Hemali Weerasekara were unanimously elected as Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees, and Deputy Chairperson of Committees, respectively. Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) was recognised as the Leader of the Opposition. On 3 December 2023, Gayantha Karunathilaka of the SJB was recognised by the Speaker as the Chief Opposition Whip.Parliamentary officials and leaders: For information on how the speaker is chosen: For the election of Speaker: For the election of Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairperson of Committees: For recognising the Leader of the Opposition: : For the appointment of Chief Opposition Whip:
In December 2024, questions about the authenticity of Asoka Ranwala's educational qualifications sparked widespread calls for clarification from academics, officials, politicians, and the public.Allegations of impropriety:
Amidst the growing controversy, Ranwala resigned as Speaker of Parliament on 13 December 2024.Resignation:
Official confirmation:
On 17 December 2024, Jagath Wickremerathna was unanimously elected as the next Speaker of Parliament.For the election of Speaker:
Government
The National People's Power (NPP), having secured a supermajority with 159 seats, formed the next government of Sri Lanka. The new cabinet of ministers, sworn in on 18 November 2024, includes 21 members elected in the recent parliamentary election, along with the president, who will retain the portfolios of defence, finance, and digital economy. This was carried out in accordance with Articles 42 to 47 of the Constitution. Harini Amarasuriya will continue as the prime minister, in addition to her ministerial portfolio of education, higher education and vocational education. On 25 November 2024, the president, through a Gazette Extraordinary notification, assigned subjects, functions, departments, statutory institutions, and public corporations to the respective ministries.Appointment of PM, cabinet ministers and assignment of duties: For the appointment of prime minister: For ministerial portfolios retained by the president: For the appointment of ministers: For the assignment of duties, subjects and functions, departments, institutions, statutory boards and public corporations to each ministry: For the new cabinet of ministers sworn in on 18 November: For additional information on ministerial portfolios: For media coverage of the assignment of duties, subjects and functions:
On 21 November 2024, 29 MPs were sworn in as deputy ministers. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Cabinet Minister for Labour, was assigned the additional role of Deputy Minister for Economic Development alongside his existing responsibilities.
On 10 October 2025, President Dissanayake carried out a ministerial reshuffle that included new appointments and changes affecting three cabinet ministers and ten deputy ministers. The number of cabinet members, including the president, increased from 22 to 23, while the number of deputy ministers rose from 29 to 32.
On 17 April 2026, Kumara Jayakody resigned from his position as the minister of energy to facilitate an impartial and independent inquiry into controversial coal imports. On 20 April 2026, Anura Karunathilake was appointed to fill the vacancy created in addition to his current ministerial responsibilities.
Government budget and policy statement 2024 The new government's first policy statement was presented to the parliament on 21 November 2024 by the president. A debate on the government's policy statement took place from 3 to 5 December 2024 and was passed unanimously.
On 5 December 2024, an interim vote on account was presented to parliament, initiating the debate. Following the conclusion of the debate, the vote on account was passed without a formal vote on 6 December 2024.
2025 On 9 January 2025, the prime minister presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to Parliament, outlining the government's proposed expenditure for the financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2025. This marked the bill's first reading. The second reading, also known as the budget speech, was delivered by the president on 17 February. On 21 March 2025, Parliament passed the budget at its third reading, with amendments, by a majority of 114 votes, with 159 votes in favour and 45 against.
On 26 September 2025, the government presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to Parliament. The second reading was delivered on 7 November by the president and was passed on 14 November by a majority of 118, with 160 MPs voting in favour and 42 voting against. The third reading of the bill was passed on 5 December 2025 with a majority of 157 votes with 158 MPs voting in favour and 1 voting against.
On 18 December 2025, the government presented a supplementary estimate of Rs. 500 billion, approximately US$1.615 billion, to assist individuals affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to rebuild damaged infrastructure. Parliament debated the estimate on 19 December and approved it unanimously.
Members Deaths and resignations 14 March 2025 – M. S. Naleem (SLMC/NAT) resigned, replaced by Abdul Wazeeth on 8 July.
6 April 2025 – Kosala Jayaweera (NPP/KEG) died, replaced by Samantha Ranasinghe on 8 May.
20 June 2025 – Harshana Suriyapperuma (NPP/NAT) resigned, replaced by Nishantha Jayaweera on 9 July.
28 November 2025 – Muhammedu Ismail (SJB/NAT) resigned, replaced by Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir on 5 December. 14 September 2026 – Abdul Wazeeth (SLMC/NAT) resigned, replaced by Habeeb Rifan on 24 September.
List
Members of the 17th Parliament of Sri LankaMPs elected from Electoral districts: NPP and SB National list nominees: SJB National list nominees:
NDF, SLPP, ITAK and SLMC National list nominees:
Name District Pref. Votes Member From Member To Elected Alliance Current AllianceNotes COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL COL GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM GAM KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAL KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN KAN MTL MTL MTL MTL MTL NUW NUW NUW NUW NUW NUW NUW NUW GAL GAL GAL GAL GAL GAL GAL GAL GAL MTR MTR MTR MTR MTR MTR MTR HAM HAM HAM HAM HAM HAM HAM JAF JAF JAF JAF JAF JAF VAN VAN VAN VAN VAN VAN BAT BAT BAT BAT BAT AMP AMP AMP AMP AMP AMP AMP TRI TRI TRI TRI KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR KUR PUT PUT PUT PUT PUT PUT PUT PUT ANU ANU ANU ANU ANU ANU ANU ANU ANU POL POL POL POL POL BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD MON MON MON MON MON MON RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT RAT KEG KEG KEG KEG KEG KEG KEG KEG KEG KEG NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT () NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT NAT
Notes
References
External links Election Commission of Sri Lanka official website