International
Anura Kumara Dissanayake Sworn In As Sri Lanka’s New President
Dissanayake, a left-leaning politician, positions himself as a challenger to the political status quo, with analysts viewing his victory as a rejection of the corruption and cronyism that have long afflicted the nation.
Saturday’s election was the first since 2022, when widespread discontent over economic conditions led to mass protests and the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
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Following his election, Dissanayake received congratulatory messages from leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the U.S. State Department.
In a statement just before his swearing-in, the 55-year-old, often referred to as AKD, declared, “This victory belongs to all of us,” emphasizing that Sri Lanka is at a “fresh start.”
He further stated, “The millions of eyes filled with hope and expectation push us forward. Together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history.”
During his campaign, he pledged to implement good governance and strong anti-corruption measures, aiming to develop Sri Lanka’s manufacturing, agriculture, and IT sectors.
He has also committed to honouring the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to assist the country while mitigating the impact of austerity on the poorest citizens.
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Prior to Dissanayake’s swearing-in, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned, clearing the way for the dissolution of parliament.
In a previous interview with BBC Sinhala, Dissanayake indicated his intention to dissolve parliament soon after taking office, stating, “There is no point continuing with a parliament that is not in line with what the people want.”
Dissanayake’s victory was confirmed after a second round of counting, as no candidate secured more than 50% of the votes in the initial round.
The Election Commission announced that he garnered a total of 5,740,179 votes, while opposition leader Sajith Premadasa received 4,530,902 votes.
Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who received 2,299,767 votes in the first round, was eliminated from contention.
Wickremesinghe congratulated Dissanayake, saying, “With much love and respect for this beloved nation, I hand over its future to the new president.”
This election marks a significant departure from previous presidential elections in Sri Lanka, where all eight elections since 1982 had a winner determined in the first round. Dissanayake’s anti-corruption platform resonated strongly with voters eager for systemic change following the recent crisis.
His ascent has allowed him to overcome concerns regarding the violent history of his political party, the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which was involved in two armed uprisings against the Sri Lankan state in the 1970s and 1980s.
Dissanayake’s alliance, the National People’s Power, gained prominence during the 2022 protests known as Aragalaya, or “struggle,” and he has sought to moderate the hard-left stance of his party in recent years.
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