Sri Lanka

Flag Description

Yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panel.

Election type: Presidential

Election date: 17 November 2005 (last held 21 December 1999)

Number of registered voters: 13 327 160 (as at November 2005)

Compulsory voting: No

Government

Type: Republic

Party in Government: United People’s Freedom Alliance

Chief of State and President: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994). Elected by popular vote for a six-year term.

Branches: Executive- President, chief of state and head of government are elected for a six-year term.

Legislative—a unicameral 225 member parliament.

Judicial—Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and subordinate courts. 

Political parties: Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Jathika Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Tamil National Alliance, United National Party, several small Tamil and Muslim parties, and others. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, along with several small leftist parties, operate under an umbrella organization known as the “United People’s Freedom Alliance.” The United National Party and several other smaller parties operate as the “United National Front.”

Suffrage: universal over 18

According to sa CNN article Sri Lankan PM wins election, 60 year old Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaske, who was one of thirteen candidates and has in the past taken a hard line on the Tamil Tiger rebels, has been successful in becoming Sri Lanka's 5th President.

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Last reviewed 7 December, 2005 by the Parliamentary Library Web Manager
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