Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s president on Monday after an election. Dissanayake, 55, who ran as head of the Marxist-leaning National People’s Power coalition, defeated opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and 36 other candidates in Saturday’s election. Dissanayake received 5,740,179 votes, followed by Premadasa with 4,530,902.
Sri Lanka has a new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who took office on September 23, 2024. He is known for his left-leaning political stance and promises to bring “clean” politics to the country. Dissanayake’s election comes as Sri Lanka tries to recover from its worst-ever economic crisis.
Dissanayake’s win is seen as a rejection of corruption and mismanagement, which many blame for the economic collapse. He campaigned on a promise to fight corruption and improve the country’s governance. After taking his oath, Dissanayake emphasized the need for a new political culture and pledged to restore public trust in the government.
Background of the Election
This election was the first since 2022 when protests forced former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign amid an economic meltdown. In the most recent vote, Dissanayake secured over 5.7 million votes, beating opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who received 4.5 million votes.
Dissanayake’s rise to power represents a shift towards leftist policies. His party, the National People’s Power (NPP), rose to prominence during the 2022 protests, where people demanded better leadership and economic reforms.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake Promises
The new president has made several promises to the people of Sri Lanka:
- Strengthen democracy and political accountability.
- Boost the economy by focusing on manufacturing, agriculture, and technology.
- Reduce the impact of austerity measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while continuing necessary reforms.
- Work towards national unity by bringing together Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and other communities.
Dissanayake has also promised to dissolve the current parliament soon to align with the people’s demands for change.
Challenges Ahead
Sri Lanka is still struggling with high inflation, poverty, and foreign debt. The previous government secured a $2.9 billion deal with the IMF to stabilize the economy, but the country remains in financial hardship. Dissanayake will need to balance reform with easing the burden on the poor.
His election brings hope to many Sri Lankans who want a fresh start and better governance. However, it also comes with the enormous task of reviving the economy and uniting the nation after years of political turmoil.
