03 March 2020 – Parliament dissolved, election on 25 April

Type of Intervention: Executive Order
Sectors Involved: Executive Office
Intervention Categories: Legal and policy; Electoral changes
Level of Jurisdiction: National
Lead People/Agency: President

Overview: Proclamation by President- (a) Dissolve Parliament, with effect from midnight 2nd March and summon the new Parliament to meet on the 14th of May, 2020; (b) Fix 25th of April 2020 as the date for the election of Members of Parliament ; (c) Specify the period beginning on the 12th of March 2020 and ending at 12 noon of the 19th day of March 2020 as the nomination period.

Full details here: http://documents.gov.lk/files/egz/2020/3/2165-08_E.pdf

Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, I assume that this decision would have received advice from advisory groups
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – other
Evidence/Justification: The President who came to power on 18th of Nov 2019. As per constitution, he appointed a new cabinet though the party had a minority in the Parliament. Therefore, they needed an election to win and gain control of the parliament.