8th Parliament of Sri Lanka

The United National Party won a 5⁄6 majority to form a government under J. R. Jayewardene.

On 22 December 1982, the 1982 Sri Lankan national referendum was held, giving the people of Sri Lanka the option to extend the life of parliament by 6 years without an election.

The UNP won the largest landslide in Sri Lankan history (due to the first-past-the-post system).

For the first time, a Tamil party won the second-highest number of seats in Parliament and became the Official Opposition.

Sarath Muttetuwegama of the Communist Party was returned to Parliament in the ensuing by-election.