Voters at a polling station in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo to elect representatives to the 225-member parliament. EPA
Voters at a polling station in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo to elect representatives to the 225-member parliament. EPA
Voters at a polling station in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo to elect representatives to the 225-member parliament. EPA
Voters at a polling station in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo to elect representatives to the 225-member parliament. EPA

Sri Lankans cast their ballots in snap parliamentary elections


Taniya Dutta
  • English
  • Arabic

Millions of Sri Lankans voted in snap election for the national parliament on Thursday, a crucial poll for the country’s newly elected left-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose party aims to control the house to implement the promised reforms policies.

The polls to elect representatives to the 225-member parliament closed at 4pm local time. More than 17 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with more than 8,800 candidates belonging to 49 political parties and 284 independent groups standing. The Election Commission of Sri Lanka, an independent body, is overseeing the polls, with more than 80,000 police guarding around 13,000 polling stations across the country.

Dissanayake, 55, from the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party, and other alliance partners won a landslide election in September with a promise to end corruption and improve the economy following the nation’s worst financial crisis in 2022.

The National People’s Power, a coalition of left parties led by Mr Dissanayake, secured 42 per cent of votes in the presidential elections that witnessed poor performances by former rulers, including strongman Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s party.

Mr Dissanayake’s coalition government has pledged to bring economic and political reforms and to strengthen its position in the national parliament. The party is aiming to win a minimum of 113 seats to take control of the 225-member parliament, of which 196 parliamentarians will be directly elected. The rest will be nominated by respective political parties and all members will be elected for a five-year term.

”I have voted for Dissanayake’s party. I am confident that he’ll win. He promised us a better economy, a better country. We trust him,” Nuwan Sity, a Colombo resident told The National.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote. EPA
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake shows his ink-marked finger after casting his vote. EPA

Known for his impassioned calls for reforms, Mr Dissanayake has promised to end corruption, lower taxes, and close-market economic policies, resonating strongly with young voters. He has also pledged to abolish the country’s executive presidency, a system under which power is largely centralised under the president.

The outgoing parliament was dominated by the party of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa – the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, or the People's Front – but it has since splintered. Mr Rajapaksa is not standing, but his son Namal, a former sports minister, is seeking re-election after losing in the last presidential poll.

How to vote

Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.

They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi

Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday) 

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THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali

Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”

Favourite TV programme: the news

Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”

Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad

 

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
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The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters

The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.

 Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.

A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.

The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.

The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.

Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.

Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment

But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.

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UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

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Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile

Company: Libra Project

Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware

Launch year: 2017

Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time

Sector: Renewable energy

Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.

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How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

While you're here
Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

Updated: November 14, 2024, 11:53 AM`