Question: Consider the following statements:
(1) Mahinda Rajapaksa took oath as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the fourth time.
(2) Mahinda Rajapaksa led party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has won 145 seats.
Of the above correct statement/s is/are:
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1&2
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Related facts:
- Parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka were held on 5 August 2020 to elect 225 members to Sri Lanka’s 16th Parliament.
- The incumbent Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has recorded a massive victory with 145 seats, just five seats short of a two-thirds majority.
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya led by Sajith Premadasa won 54 seats, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) 10 seats and National People’s Power 3 seats.
- The main opposition United National Party led by Ranil Wickremesinghe suffered the worst showing in its history following a split over party leadership, finishing in fourth place with only one seat.
- Mahinda Rajapaksa took oath as the Prime Minister for the fourth time on August 9 2020.
- He was administered the oath by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony held at Kelaniya Mahaviharaya near Colombo.
- Mahinda Rajapaksa has served as country’s President from 2006 to 2015.
- Rajapaksa is credited with ending the decades long LTTE war in 2009 during his Presidency.
By-Amar Mani Upadhyay