Most recent parliamentary election (2015): Held in August 2015, 10 months ahead of schedule, to elect Sri Lanka’s 15th Parliament. The incumbent coalition, United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG), led by the United National Party (UNP) won 106 seats, an increase of 46 from the 2010 election. However they failed to secure a majority in Parliament (the required number of 113). The main opposition, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) won 95 seats, a decline of 49 since 2010. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP) was able to form a national government with the support of UPFA MPs loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena. Parties: Political parties solely based on religious identity are relatively new in Sri Lanka. Three major political parties can be exclusively categorized as political parties that employ Sinhala-Buddhist concerns and demands for electoral gains: Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) (Imtiyaz 2010). Presently, both Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and Sinhala Ravaya (SR) are viewed as main ethno-religious forces who are trying to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the country. These groups share common goals: to uphold Buddhism and establish a link between the state and religion; to advocate a violent solution to the Tamil question and; to oppose all form of devolution to the minorities. The agendas of the JHU, JNP, BBS and SR are the biggest hurdle for the government of Sri Lanka to seek meaningful political initiatives to reform the state.

Parliamentary alliances Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - Formed in 2001 - The alliance originally supported self-determination in an autonomous Tamil state - It supported negotiations with the LTTE to resolve the Sri Lankan civil war - The Alliance has dropped its request for self-determination, and has instead stated it supports regional self-rule of the Tamils instead - It originally consisted of 4 parties: Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front, Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi, People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam, and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation - The TNA currently has 16 members in the national parliament - It controls the provincial government in the Northern province - It is part of the provincial government in the Eastern province - The leader of the alliance is R. Sampanthan, who is also leader of the opposition (even though the Alliance came third in the 2015 national parliamentary election) - Ideology: Tamil nationalism, Federalism United National Front for Good Governance/ United National Front - Founded 2005 - Members: All Ceylon Muslim Congress, Democratic National Movement, Democratic Party, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Tamil Progressive Alliance, United Left Front, United National Party (largest party in the Alliance) - The Alliance contested the 2015 Sri Lankan election under the symbol and name of the United National Party - It was elected as the Alliance to form the government after the 2015 election - It holds 106/225 seats in the parliament of Sri Lanka - Its leader, and therefore Prime Minister, is Ranil Wickremesinghe (also leader of the United National Party, the largest party within the Alliance) - Ideology: Centre-right

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United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) - Founded 2004 - Leader: President Maithripala Sirisena (his predecessor being President Rajapakse) - Current members of the Alliance: Sri Lanka Freedom Party (largest party), Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Desha Vimukthi Janatha Pakshaya, Democratic Left Front, Eelam People’s Democratic Party, Eelavar Democratic Front, Mahakana Eksath Peramuna, National Freedom Front, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal, Sri-TELO - Political position: Centre-left to left - Ideology: Democratic socialism 2015 Presidential election Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of the Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP) was first elected to power in 2005. After ending the conflict with the LTTE in 2009, he sought re-election to office, with his second term commencing in January 2010. In September 2010, then President Rajapaksa passed the 18th Amendment which removed the twoterm limit on the office of the Presidency. On 20th November 2014, then President Rajapaksa signed a Gazette notification expressing his desire to seek a third term. Two candidates were considered as serious contenders; the incumbent President, and Mr Maithripala Sirisena representing the New Democratic Front (Alliance). Sirisena had defected from the government, previously holding the office under President Rajapaksa as Secretary for Health. The New Democratic Front was led by the United National Party, the opposition party at the time. Sirisena was the alliance’s ‘common candidate’ for the Presidential election. The incumbent President Rajapaksa lost the election 47.6% to Sirisena’s 51.3%, with a turnout of 82%. Soon after the election, Rajapaksa handed over leadership of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to President Sirisena, as per the SLFP constitution which states that any SLFP member who is President is automatically leader of the party. Soon afterwards, the party split into two factions – those supporting President Sirisena and who were willing to work with the minority UNP government, and the Rajapakse faction (which acted as the main de facto opposition to the new government). Nimal Siripala de Silva was appointed as parliamentary leader of the SLFP and the official Leader of the Opposition. 2015 General Election The UPFA led by the SLFP won only 95 seats, while its rival the UNFGG Alliance led by the UNP won 106 seats. The UNP invited the SLFP to form a majority government. 45 MPs joined the new government; however 50 MPs remained in the Opposition with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party facing an inevitable split. In August 2016, President Sirisena launched a purge against the Rajapaksa loyalists by removing them as electoral organisers. He took a strong stand against them, stating "Those who destroyed the country, those who destroyed democracy, those who terrorised the people through their 'white van' culture, those who robbed billions and crowned themselves as champions of waste and corruption will not be allowed to take back power in this country". As well as the Official Opposition, an opposition alliance known as the ‘Joint Opposition’ was formed in 2015 after the Presidential and General Elections. It is formed of the left, pro-Rajapaksa faction of the SLFP, alongside the larger left-wing parties of Sri Lanka. It is currently the largest opposition group in parliament, despite R. Sampanthan of the Tamil National Alliance holding the position as Leader of the Opposition. There are currently 13 female members of the national parliament