Sri Lanka’s National People’s Power (NPP) coalition has secured a two-thirds majority in parliament, granting it a ‘super majority’ with the ability to amend the island’s constitution, as it swept polls this morning – taking home the most number of seats ever.

As Sri Lanka’s parliamentary election draws to a close, Tamil Families of the Disappeared gathered in Trincomalee to continue their demands answers about the fate of their loved ones, many of whom were forcibly disappeared at the end of the armed conflict.

Since his start in the Telugu film industry and Tamil debut with 2011’s ‘Siruthai’ starring Karthi, Siva has unabashedly aimed to provide nothing but mindless entertainment for his audience. If you are looking for leave-your-brain-at-home, escapist cinema, Siva will provide by the bucket.

 

 

 

Polls have closed across the island with a voter turnout lower than expected in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections. Initial figures suggest lower participation in polls today compared to September’s presidential polls. There are 17.1 million eligible voters, including 1 million first-time voters, who will elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term. In the Tamil North-East, more than 2,000 candidates are standing for the 28 seats on offer.

The polls closed in Sri Lanka’s parliamentary elections on Thursday, with a 65% turnout across the island and an even higher turnout in many regions across the North East. 

Millions of voters across the island are heading to the polls today, as Sri Lanka’s parliamentary polls get underway.

There are 17.1 million eligible voters, including 1 million first-time voters, who will elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term.

Why the election?

The Indian Navy submarine INS Vela completed a three-day visit to Sri Lanka this week, in a move that seems aimed at building closer ties between the two militaries.

Vivek Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and Republican politician of Tamil Brahmin heritage, has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump to co-head a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

^{Photograph: Gage Skidmore}

The United States has sanctioned India-based Shaurya Aeronautics Private Limited (Shaurya), part of a consortium with Russia’s Airports of Regions Management Company to oversee Sri Lanka’s Mattala Rajapaksa Airport.