Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa issued an Extraordinary Gazette to confirm that the Sri Lankan parliament will be dissolved midnight today (March 2).
Rajapaksa, who obtained the constitutional power to dissolve the parliament from midnight on Sunday when the minimum term of four-and-a-half years had been reached - said the general election will be held on April 25, 2020 - as he seeks to secure a stronger majority to allow him to push for constitutional changes to increase his presidential power and influence.
The nominations of candidates will be expected to be received by the Returning Officers during the period beginning on the 12th March, and ending at 12 Noon of the 19th March. The new parliament have also been summoned to meet on May 14, 2020.
The early dissolution Rajapaksa comes six months before the parliamentary term was scheduled to end but will allow the election campaign to feature the first anniversary of the Easter Sunday bombings.
