1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election

1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election
← 1952 5–10 April 1956 March 1960 →
95 seats to the House of Representatives of Ceylon
48 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike N. M. Perera
Party MEP LSSP
Leader since 1956 1945
Leader's seat Attanagalla Ruwanwella
Last election 15.52%, 9 seats[a] 13.11%, 9 seats
Seats won 51 14
Seat change Increase 42 Increase 5
Popular vote 1,046,277 274,204
Percentage 39.52% 10.36%
Swing Increase 24.00pp Decrease 2.75pp
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader S. J. V. Chelvanayakam John Kotelawala
Party ITAK UNP
Leader since 1949 1953
Leader's seat Kankesanthurai Dodangaslanda
Last election 1.95%, 2 seats 44.08%, 54 seats
Seats won 10 8
Seat change Increase 8 Decrease 46
Popular vote 142,758 738,810
Percentage 5.39% 27.91%
Swing Increase 3.44pp Decrease 16.17pp
Prime Minister before election

John Kotelawala
UNP

Prime Minister after election

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
MEP

Parliamentary elections were held in Ceylon in 1956. They were a watershed in the country's political history, and were the first elections fought to realistically challenge the ruling United National Party. Former Leader of the House S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike crossed over to the opposition to form the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to launch his bid for Prime Minister. The party won the election with 51 seats, winning a majority in the house.
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