President Dissanayake's NPP wins majority in Sri Lankan parliamentary election

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's National Peoples' Power (NPP) party secured a majority in parliament after Thursday's parliamentary election, data released by the country's Election Commission showed Friday.

The NPP has won 141 seats and secured 6,863,186 votes. Former opposition leader Sajith Premadasa's Samagi Jana Balawegaya party came in second, securing 35 seats with 1,968,716 votes.

The Sri Lankan Parliament has 225 seats. 196 are elected from 22 multi-member electoral districts. The remaining 29 seats are elected from National Lists allocated to the parties (and independent groups) in proportion to their share of the national vote.

The Elections Commission is yet to declare how the 29 National List seats are divided, but many expect the NPP to secure a two-thirds majority.

According to Sri Lankan Parliament regulations, the ruling party needs a parliamentary majority to pass laws and a two-thirds majority to bring constitutional amendments.