Sri Lanka president's party wins two-third majority in parliament election

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's party and its allies won an overwhelming two-thirds majority in a parliament election, results released early Friday (August 7) showed, giving him the power to enact sweeping changes to the constitution.

Mahinda Rajapaksa waves at supporters during a campaign rally ahead of Sri Lanka's Aug. 5 parliamentary election. (Photo: Reuters)
Mahinda Rajapaksa waves at supporters during a campaign rally ahead of Sri Lanka's Aug. 5 parliamentary election. (Photo: Reuters)

The governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and its allies had won 150 seats in the 225-member parliament, according to the tally published by the election commission from Wednesday (August 4)'s vote.

Rajapaksa had sought a two-thirds majority in parliament to be able to restore full executive powers to the presidency, which he says are necessary to implement his agenda to make the country economically and militarily secure.

Reuters