National People's Power
{{short description|Political party in Sri Lanka}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = National People's Power
| native_name = {{nobold|ජාතික ජන බලවේගය}}
{{nobold|தேசிய மக்கள் சக்தி}}
| logo = Logo of the National People's Power.svg
| logo_size = 225
| colorcode = {{party color|National People's Power}}
| abbreviation = NPP
| leader = Anura Kumara Dissanayake
| general_secretary = Nihal Abeysinghe
| founder = Anura Kumara Dissanayake
| founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|p=y|2019|07|13}}{{Cite web |title=National People's Power launched |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/caption-story/National-People%E2%80%99s-Power-launched/110-171119 |access-date=11 April 2024 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}
| dissolved =
| merger =
| split =
| predecessor =
| merged =
| successor =
| headquarters = 464/20 Pannipitiya Road, Pelawatta, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka{{Cite web |title=Contact |url=https://www.jvpsrilanka.com/english/contact/#:~:text=Address.%20464/20,%20Pannipitiya%20Road,%20Pelawatte,%20Battaramulla, |access-date=4 October 2024 |website=www.jvpsrilanka.com}}
| newspaper =
| student_wing =
| youth_wing = NPP Youth{{efn|Section of the Socialist Students Union}}
| wing3_title =
| wing3 =
| womens_wing = Progressive Women's Collective
| wing4_title = Armed wing
| wing4 =
| national =
| membership_year =
| membership =
| ideology = {{ubl|class=nowrap|
|Democratic socialism{{refn|{{cite web | url=https://fpif.org/did-sri-lanka-swap-austerity-capitalism-for-marxism/ | title="Did Sri Lanka Swap Austerity Capitalism for “Marxism”?" – Foreign Policy in Focus}}{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/JVP-led-NPP-believes-in-a-unique-Sri-Lankan-economic-model-based-on-socialist-principles-Nalinda-Jayatissa-former-MP/231-273197 | title="JVP-led NPP believes in a unique Sri Lankan economic model based on socialist principles" -Nalinda Jayatissa (Former MP) – Opinion | Daily Mirror }}{{cite web | url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/hard-talk/Well-contest-elections-under-a-new-symbol-Anura-Kumara-Dissanayake/334-173993 | title="We'll contest elections under a new symbol" Anura Kumara Dissanayake – Hard talk | Daily Mirror }}}}
|Left-wing populism{{refn|{{cite web | url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Sri-Lankan-outsider-leftist-Dissanayake-wins-presidential-election | title=Sri Lankan outsider leftist Dissanayake wins presidential election }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2024/09/23/featured/635387/breaking-the-two-party-hold/|title=Breaking the Two-Party Hold|website=www.dailynews.lk}}{{cite web | url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/international/2024/08/29/sri-lanka-leftist-candidate-gains-ground-with-anti-corruption-push/ | title=Sri Lanka Leftist Candidate Gains Ground with Anti-Corruption Push | date=29 August 2024 }}}}
}}
| position = Left-wing
| colours = {{color box|{{party color|National People's Power}}}} Pink
| slogan = Let The Real People Win
| religion =
| international =
| european =
| europarl =
| seats1_title = Parliament of Sri Lanka
| seats1 = {{Infobox political party/seats|159|225|{{party color|National People's Power}}}}
| seats2_title = Local government Bodies
| seats2 = {{Infobox political party/seats|266|341|{{party color|National People's Power}}}}
| seats3_title = Local Government Members
| seats3 = {{Infobox political party/seats|3942|7842|{{party color|National People's Power}}}}
| symbol = Compass
100px
| website = [https://www.npp.lk npp.lk]
| country = Sri Lanka
| anthem =
| footnotes =
}}
The National People's Power (NPP), known in Sinhala as Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB), is a left-wing{{Cite web |title=Left-wing alliance wins two-thirds majority in the Sri Lankan parliament |url=https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/11/15/left-wing-alliance-wins-two-thirds-majority-in-the-sri-lankan-parliament/ |website=Peoples Dispatch |quote="...the left-wing Jathika Jana Balawegaya or National People’s Power (NPP) alliance emerged as the clear winner in the country’s parliamentary elections"}}{{Cite web |last=Arulthas |first=Mario |title=No, Sri Lanka’s Tamil question has not been resolved |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/1/9/no-sri-lankas-tamil-question-has-not-been-resolved |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |quote=The National People’s Power (NPP), a left-wing Sinhala coalition, secured a landslide victory, winning 159 seats in Parliament}}{{Cite web |last=Gamage |first=Rajni |date=20 January 2025 |title=Negotiating left politics in Sri Lanka: The NPP in government |url=https://greenagenda.org.au/2025/01/negotiating-left-politics-in-sri-lanka-the-npp-victory/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Green Agenda |language=en-AU |quote=Sri Lanka’s left-wing National People’s Power (NPP) coalition secured historic electoral victories in 2024}}{{Citation |last=Human Rights Watch |title=Sri Lanka: Events of 2025 |date=2024-12-12 |work= |url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/sri-lanka |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en |quote=Sri Lankan politics changed course in September, when Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the left-wing National People’s Power (NPP) alliance}} political alliance in Sri Lanka. It is the current ruling party of Sri Lanka, having won the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, and is currently the largest party in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the current leader of the party and Nihal Abeysinghe is the general secretary.
Established in 2019,{{Cite web|url=http://www.themorning.lk/jvp-to-continue-politics-under-npp|title=JVP to continue politics under NPP|date=17 August 2020|publisher=The Morning|place=Sri Lanka}} the NPP consists of 21 diverse groups, including political parties and other organisations led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.{{cite web |title=Who we are |url=https://www.npp.lk/en/about |website=www.npp.lk |access-date=24 September 2024}} It contests in elections under the compass symbol. Considered an electorally weak third-party prior to 2024, it briefly formed a minority government under president Anura Kumara Dissanayake following his election. In the subsequent parliamentary elections, the NPP became the largest party in the parliament for the first time with 159 seats, winning a supermajority.
History
The NPP was formed by the members of the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and over 20 other diverse groups, including political parties, worker unions, women's rights groups and youth organizations including members of ethnic minority communities.{{cn|date=November 2024}} It was formed as a coalition of left-wing and progressive parties that aimed to present an alternative to the existing political establishment in Sri Lanka.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-16 |title=The NPP Factor: Rise Of Left-Wing Populism In Sri Lanka |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-npp-factor-rise-of-left-wing-populism-in-sri-lanka/ |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Colombo Telegraph |language=en-US}}
=Opposition (2019–2024)=
In the 2020 parliamentary elections, the SLPP achieved a landslide victory as the ruling party, while the Samagi Jana Balawegaya became the main opposition party. The NPP only secured 3 seats and remained a third party. Dissanayake later said in a speech that he was not satisfied with the SLPP's victory and the NPP's defeat. When the 20th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka was announced, the NPP launched a protest against it.{{Cite web|url=https://economynext.com/proposed-new-20th-amendment-will-take-sri-lanka-back-to-the-stone-age-npp-73652/|title = Proposed New 20th Amendment will take Sri Lanka back to the Stone Age – NPP|date = 7 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/08/08/political/225330/npp-dissatisfied-general-election-results-anura-kumara|title=NPP dissatisfied with the general election results: Anura Kumara|website=dailynews.lk}}
=In government (2024–present)=
{{main|2024 Sri Lankan presidential election}}
The NPP saw a surge in popular support during the 2022 Sri Lankan protests, amid dissatisfaction with the incumbent political establishment and the economic crisis. In the first vote count of the 2024 presidential election, NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake won a plurality of the vote, with 42.31%.{{Cite web |url= https://elections.gov.lk/en/political_party/political_party_list_E.html |title=Election Commission |website=elections.gov.lk}} Once the second round of vote counting concluded, Dissanayake was declared the winner and elected president, securing 55.89% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=Live Sri Lanka Presidential Election Results 2024: Real-Time Results |url=https://results.elections.gov.lk |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=results.elections.gov.lk}} The following day, Dissanayake formed an interim 3-member NPP government.{{Cite web |title=New Cabinet appointed – Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/New-Cabinet-appointed/108-292370 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}
{{Main|2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election}}
Shortly after his inauguration, President Dissanayake dissolved parliament and called for snap parliamentary elections, fulfilling one of his campaign pledges.{{cite web |last=Mallawarachi |first=Bharatha |date=25 September 2024 |title=Sri Lanka's new president calls a parliamentary election for November to consolidate his mandate |url=https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-prime-minister-election-66fd3b9e7f42a0ec7fb3f37e60ad0ca6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925035304/https://apnews.com/article/sri-lanka-prime-minister-election-66fd3b9e7f42a0ec7fb3f37e60ad0ca6 |archive-date=25 September 2024 |access-date=25 September 2024 |publisher=Associated Press}} In the elections, which were held on 14 November 2024, the NPP won a supermajority, securing 159 seats in the 225-member Parliament of Sri Lanka. The NPP won every electoral district except for Batticaloa.{{Cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=Meera |date=2024-11-16 |title=Sri Lanka parliamentary election: How the NPP won over country’s ethnic minorities |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sri-lanka-parliamentary-election-how-the-npp-won-over-sri-lankas-ethnic-minorities/article68876413.ece |access-date=2024-12-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
The NPP's majority was the second-largest majority in the country's parliamentary history, and the first election since 1977 where a single party managed to achieve a supermajority. The NPP secured 6,863,186 votes, the highest ever obtained by a single political party in a general election, surpassing the 6,853,690 votes won by the SLPFA in 2020. The NPP also won a record breaking 61.56% of the total vote, overtaking the previous record of 60.33% won by the UPFA in 2010. The NPP won the most seats in the Jaffna District, thus making it the first non-Tamil political party to win this district.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2024 |title=Sri Lanka President's NPP single largest party in Jaffna |url=https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-presidents-npp-single-largest-party-in-jaffna-187797/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=EconomyNext |language=en}} Altogether, the NPP won 21 out of 22 electoral districts, and 152 constituencies.{{Cite web |title=Final results: NPP secures 159 seats |url=https://sundaytimes.lk/online/news/Final-results-NPP-secures-159-seats/2-1147444 |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=Times Online |language=English}}
Vijitha Herath, contesting from Gampaha District, won 716,715 preferential votes, the highest ever recorded by a candidate in Sri Lanka. This surpassed previous records set by Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2015 (500,566 votes), Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2020 (527,364 votes), and Harini Amarasuriya earlier in the election with 655,289 votes from the Colombo District.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2024 |title=Minister Vijitha Herath sets new Sri Lanka Voting record |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2024/11/15/minister-vijitha-herath-sets-new-sri-lanka-voting-record/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=Newswire |language=en-US}} The election also witnessed a milestone in women's representation, with a record 21 female MPs elected, the highest in Sri Lanka's parliamentary history. Among them, 19 represented the NPP.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2024 |title=List of candidates and preferential votes in Sri Lanka 2024 election |url=https://economynext.com/list-of-candidates-and-preferential-votes-in-sri-lanka-2024-election-188007/ |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=EconomyNext |language=en}}
Ideology
The National People's Power is ideologically left-wing populist{{cite web |url=https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-npp-factor-rise-of-left-wing-populism-in-sri-lanka/ |title=The NPP Factor: Rise of Left-Wing Populism in Sri Lanka |last=Perera |first=Dayan Jayatilleka |date=12 June 2024 |website=Colombo Telegraph |access-date=7 July 2024 }} and working-class centred. The NPP promotes a unique Sri Lankan economic model based on socialist principles and considers both neoliberalism and "classical socialism" to be failures.{{cite news |title="JVP-led NPP believes in a unique Sri Lankan economic model based on socialist principles" -Nalinda Jayatissa (former MP) |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/JVP-led-NPP-believes-in-a-unique-Sri-Lankan-economic-model-based-on-socialist-principles-Nalinda-Jayatissa-former-MP/231-273197 |access-date=22 September 2024 |work=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}} The NPP claims to oppose excessive privatisation{{cite news |title=AKD outlines industrial policy of the NPP/JVP |url=https://www.themorning.lk/articles/218843 |access-date=22 September 2024 |work=Latest in the News Sphere {{!}} The Morning |date=19 September 2022}} and supports the state maintaining a role in energy, financial markets, and sectors directly related to national security while limiting involvement in profit-driven businesses.{{cite news |title=AKD assures business community of investment security under NPP Govt. {{!}} Daily FT |url=https://www.ft.lk/front-page/AKD-assures-business-community-of-investment-security-under-NPP-Govt/44-766368 |access-date=22 September 2024 |work=www.ft.lk |language=English}}
Members
The NPP is composed of 21 groups, including political parties, youth organisations, women's groups, trade unions, and civil society organisations.
{{div col}}
- Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
- Aluth Parapura
- Ethera Api
- Public Servants for Public Service
- National Bhikkhu Front
- National Trade Union Centre
- Sri Lanka Communist Party (Alternative Group)
- Doctors for Social Justice
- Samabhimani Collective
- United Left Power
- Inter Company Employees' Union
- 71 Sahodrathwa Sansadaya
- Aluth Piyapath
- Mass Guiding Artists
- Janodanaya
- National Intellectuals Organization
- Dabindu Collective
- University Teachers for Social Justice
- Progressive Women's Collective
- Husmata Husmak
- All Ceylon Estate Workers' Union
{{div col end}}
Leadership
As of 5 October 2024, the current office bearers of the NPP are as shown below.{{cite web |title=Information of Recognized Political Parties – NPP |url=https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/pdf/pol_party_list/Officers/31_13.pdf |website=Election Commission of Sri Lanka |access-date=5 October 2024}}
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" |Position
! scope="col" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" |Name |
|---|
| Party Leader |
| General Secretary
| Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe |
| Treasurer |
| Deputy Secretary |
| Deputy Secretary
| Lal Wijenayake |
=Leaders=
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! No. ! colspan="2" | Leader ! Electoral District ! Took office ! Left office ! Tenure ! General Secretary {{small|(term)}} |
| rowspan="2" |1
| rowspan="2" |Anura Kumara Dissanayake | rowspan="2" |106x106px | rowspan="2" |Colombo | rowspan="2" |13 July 2019 | rowspan="2" |Incumbent | rowspan="2" |{{ayd|13 July 2019}}{{efn|As of {{FULLDATE|type=dmy}}}} |
| style="font-weight:normal" | Nihal Abeysinghe {{nowrap|2024–present}} |
|---|
Electoral history
=Presidential=
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Election ! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Candidate ! colspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | First round ! colspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Second round ! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Result ! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Ref |
| style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Votes
! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | % ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Votes ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | % |
|---|
| 2019
| rowspan="3" | Anura Kumara Dissanayake | align="center" | 418,553 | align="center" | 3.16% | colspan=2 {{N/A}} | {{no2|Lost}} | |
| 2022
| align="center" | 3 (E.V) | align="center" | 1.37% | colspan=2 {{N/A}} | {{no2|Lost}} | |
| 2024
| align="center" | 5,634,915 | align="center" | 42.31% | align="center" | 5,740,179 | align="center" | 55.89% | {{yes|Won}} |
;NPP presidents
{{as of|2024}}, there have been a total of 1 National People's Power presidents.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |
| #
! colspan="2" | President ! Home province ! Took office ! Left office ! Tenure ! colspan="2" |Prime ministers {{small|(term)}} |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |10
| rowspan="2" |Anura Kumara Dissanayake | rowspan="2" |106x106px | rowspan="2" |Western | rowspan="2" |23 September 2024 | rowspan="2" |Incumbent | rowspan="2" |{{ayd|23 September 2024}}{{efn|As of {{FULLDATE|type=dmy}}}} |
| style="background-color: {{party color|National People's Power}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|Amarasuriya {{nowrap|2024–present}} |
=Parliamentary=
| class="sortable wikitable"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Election ! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Leader ! colspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Votes ! colspan=3 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Seats ! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Result ! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Ref |
| style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | No.
! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | % ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | No. ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | {{Tooltip|+/–|Net seat gain/loss}} ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | % |
|---|
| 2015
| rowspan="3" |Anura Kumara Dissanayake |543,944 |4.87% |{{Composition bar|6|225|hex={{party color|National People's Power}}}} |New |New | {{no2|Opposition}} | |
| 2020
| 445,958 | 3.84% |{{Infobox political party/seats|3|225|{{party color|National People's Power}}}} | {{decrease}} 3 | 1.33% | {{no2|Opposition}} |
| 2024
| 6,863,186 | 61.56% | {{Infobox political party/seats|159|225|{{party color|National People's Power}}}} | {{increase}} 156 | 70.67% |{{yes2|Government}} |
;NPP prime ministers
{{as of|2024}}, there have been a total of 1 National People's Power prime ministers.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! No. ! colspan="2" | Prime Minister ! Electoral District ! Took office ! Left office ! Tenure ! colspan="2" |President {{small|(term)}} |
| rowspan="2" |1
| rowspan="2" |Harini Amarasuriya | rowspan="2" |106x106px | rowspan="2" |Colombo{{efn|First entered from the National list}} | rowspan="2" |24 September 2024 | rowspan="2" |Incumbent | rowspan="2" |{{ayd|24 September 2024}}{{efn|As of {{FULLDATE|type=dmy}}}} |
| style="background-color: {{party color|National People's Power}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|Dissanayake {{nowrap|2024–present}} |
=Local Authorities=
| class="sortable wikitable"
! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Election ! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Leader ! colspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Votes ! colspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" |Councillors ! rowspan=2 style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" |Local Authorities ! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | Ref |
| style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | No.
! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | % ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | No. ! style="background-color:{{party color|National People's Power}}; color:white;" | {{Tooltip|+/–|Net seat gain/loss}} |
|---|
| 2018
| rowspan="4" |Anura Kumara Dissanayake |710,932 |5.75% |{{composition bar|434|8327|hex={{party color|National People's Power}}}} |New |{{composition bar|0|340|hex={{party color|Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna}}}} | |
| 2019 (Elpitiya)
|2,435 |5.80% |{{composition bar|2|30|hex={{party color|National People's Power}}}} |New |{{composition bar|0|1|hex={{party color|Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna}}}} | |
| 2024 (Elpitiya)
| align="center" | 17,295 | align="center" | 47.64% |{{Infobox political party/seats|15|30|{{party color|National People's Power}}}} |{{increase}} 13 |{{composition bar|1|1|hex={{party color|National People's Power}}}} |
| 2025
|4,503,930 |43.26% |{{Infobox political party/seats|3927|7812|{{party color|National People's Power}}}} |{{increase}} 3,493 |{{composition bar|265|341|hex={{party color|National People's Power}}}} |{{Cite web |last=Newsfirst.lk |title=Sri Lankan Local Authority Election 2025 – Sri Lanka {{!}} Live Results and Live Stream - newsfirst.lk |url=https://election.newsfirst.lk/#/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=election.newsfirst.lk |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Local Authorities Election 2025 Results - Sri Lanka {{!}} Adaderana |url=https://election.adaderana.lk/local-authorities-election-2025/ |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=election.adaderana.lk}} |
See also
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sri Lankan political parties}}
{{Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2019 establishments in Sri Lanka
Category:Political parties established in 2019
Category:Progressive parties in Asia