Mahajana Eksath Peramuna
Encyclopedia
The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) is a left-wing political party
in Sri Lanka
. Today the party is led by Dinesh Gunawardena, son of Philip Gunawardena.
The MEP was founded in 1959 by Philip Gunawardena and PH William Silva, on the basis of Gunawardena's previous party and founded on the principles of the earlier MEP
. At the General Election of March 1960, the MEP obtained 10 parliamentary seats. In the 1960s the group joined with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka
to form the United Left Front. On September 29, 1963, 800 delegates, representing a million workers, ratified a charter of 21 demands that sought to encapsulate the demands and goals of Sri Lankan workers.
In 1983, Dinesh Gunawardena
, Leader of the MEP, became the common candidate to contest Maharagama by-election, which he won with an overwhelming majority to become one of the 8 members of opposition in Sri Lanka Parliament.
In 1989, the MEP contested alone under the new proportional representation electoral system and won three parliamentary seats out of 225, with Dinesh Gunawardena MP for Colombo District, Bandula Gunawardena MP for Colombo District and Gitanjana Gunawardena
as Nationalist MP.
In 2000, the MEP was one of the consituent members of the Peoples' Alliance, where MEP had three representatives in Parliament, with Dinesh Gunawardena MP for Colombo District, Bandula Gunawardena MP for Colombo District and Somaweera Chandrasiri as Nationalist MP.
At the Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004
, 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance
that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats. There were two MEP representatives in the parliament including one National list MP. Two representatives are Minister of Urban Development & Sacred Areas Development & Chief Government Whip, Dinesh GunawardenaMP and the Housing Minister, Geethanjana Gunawardena MP.
At the last parliamentary elections
, April 2010, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won nearly 2/3 in Parliament with 143 out of 225 seats. At present there are three MEP representatives in the current parliament including one National list MP. Three representatives are Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip, Dinesh GunawardenaMP for Colombo District, the Deputy External Affairs Minister, Geethanjana Gunawardena National List MP, and Sriyani Wijewickrama, Attorney-at-Law, MP for Digamadulla (Ampara) District.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Today the party is led by Dinesh Gunawardena, son of Philip Gunawardena.
The MEP was founded in 1959 by Philip Gunawardena and PH William Silva, on the basis of Gunawardena's previous party and founded on the principles of the earlier MEP
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (1956)
The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna was electoral alliance founded in 1956. It consisted of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party led by S. W. R. D...
. At the General Election of March 1960, the MEP obtained 10 parliamentary seats. In the 1960s the group joined with the Lanka Sama Samaja Party
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka
Communist Party of Sri Lanka
The Communist Party of Sri Lanka is a communist political party in Sri Lanka. At the last legislative elections, on 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats....
to form the United Left Front. On September 29, 1963, 800 delegates, representing a million workers, ratified a charter of 21 demands that sought to encapsulate the demands and goals of Sri Lankan workers.
In 1983, Dinesh Gunawardena
Dinesh Gunawardena
Dinesh Chandra Rupasinghe Gunawardena is a Sri Lankan socialist politician. He is a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, Govt Chief Whip and as well as leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna . He is the third son of Philip Gunawardena and Kusuma Gunawardena.-Early life:He received his schooling...
, Leader of the MEP, became the common candidate to contest Maharagama by-election, which he won with an overwhelming majority to become one of the 8 members of opposition in Sri Lanka Parliament.
In 1989, the MEP contested alone under the new proportional representation electoral system and won three parliamentary seats out of 225, with Dinesh Gunawardena MP for Colombo District, Bandula Gunawardena MP for Colombo District and Gitanjana Gunawardena
Gitanjana Gunawardena
Gitanjana Gunawardena is a Sri Lankan politician, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a government minister.-References:...
as Nationalist MP.
In 2000, the MEP was one of the consituent members of the Peoples' Alliance, where MEP had three representatives in Parliament, with Dinesh Gunawardena MP for Colombo District, Bandula Gunawardena MP for Colombo District and Somaweera Chandrasiri as Nationalist MP.
At the Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004
Parliamentary elections were held in Sri Lanka on 2 April 2004. The ruling United National Party of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated, winning only eighty two seats in the 225-member Sri Lankan parliament. The opposition United People's Freedom Alliance won 105 seats...
, 2 April 2004, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance
United People's Freedom Alliance
The United People's Freedom Alliance is a political alliance in Sri Lanka. The current leader of the United People's Freedom Alliance is Mahinda Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha is the general secretary of UPFA.The alliance was formed by:...
that won 45.6% of the popular vote and 105 out of 225 seats. There were two MEP representatives in the parliament including one National list MP. Two representatives are Minister of Urban Development & Sacred Areas Development & Chief Government Whip, Dinesh GunawardenaMP and the Housing Minister, Geethanjana Gunawardena MP.
At the last parliamentary elections
Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2010
The 2010 Sri Lankan parliamentary election was held on April 8 and April 20, 2010, to elect 225 members to Sri Lanka's 14th Parliament. 14,088,500 Sri Lankans were eligible to vote in the election at 11,102 polling stations...
, April 2010, the party was part of the United People's Freedom Alliance that won nearly 2/3 in Parliament with 143 out of 225 seats. At present there are three MEP representatives in the current parliament including one National list MP. Three representatives are Minister of Water Supply and Drainage and Chief Government Whip, Dinesh GunawardenaMP for Colombo District, the Deputy External Affairs Minister, Geethanjana Gunawardena National List MP, and Sriyani Wijewickrama, Attorney-at-Law, MP for Digamadulla (Ampara) District.