1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Ceylon in 1956. They were a watershed in the country's political history, and was the first elections fought to realistically challenge the ruling United National Party. The former Leader of the House, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike who was passed over after the death of the first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, crossed over to the opposition to form the Sri Lanka Freedom Party to launch his bid for Prime Minister.

1956 Ceylonese parliamentary election
5–10 April 1956
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 13.11%, 9 seats
Seats won 51 14
Seat change 42 5
Popular vote 1,046,277 274,204
Percentage 39.52% 10.36%
  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 8 46
Popular vote 142,758 738,810
Percentage 5.39% 27.91%
Prime Minister before election

John Kotelawala
UNP

 Prime Minister-designate

S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
Mahajana Eksath Peramuna

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