1. Election Results
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga did not have a cabinet prior to the first meeting of the Parliament and was still attempting to formalize a coalition. The Times of India reported that there appeared to be some rapprochement between Kumaratunga and her estranged brother, opposition United National Party member Anura Bandaranaike, after the death of their mother. Bandaranaike was appointed Speaker of the Parliament, the first opposition party member so appointed in 40 years.
"Lanka ruling party in crisis over Speaker's election"
"Anura Bandaranaike is Speaker of Lankan Parlmt"
The Tamil Eelam People's Democratic Party and the Muslim National Unity Alliance will back Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga's People's Alliance coalition, providing Kumaratunga with 117 of 225 seats in the parliament. In exchange, a Tamil member of parliament will hold a cabinet seat.
"Tamils get into Lankan cabinet"
The United National Party agreed not to disrupt the People's Alliance's narrow margin in the parliament if President Chandrika Kumaratunga agreed to introduce reforms of the police, electoral department, judiciary, and the public sector. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe predicted the parliament would not last its six-year term.
"Lanka's ruling coalition to get opposition prop"
The Dawn reported that, contrary to Sri Lanka's democratic tradition, there were charges that the People's Alliance engaged in vote rigging, intimidation, and ballot stuffing. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that new votes in affected areas would give the UNP nine additional votes, creating the need for a national unity coalition of minority parties led by the People's Alliance.
"Sri Lanka vote rigging mocks democracy"