Marxist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka’s presidential election with 42.31% of the votes, as confirmed by official results released on Sunday. The 55-year-old leader of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) celebrated his victory early, stating, “This victory belongs to all of us,” on social media as the Election Commission verified his lead.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake is set to be inaugurated on Monday at the historic Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. His election marks a significant shift away from the political establishment that many blame for the country’s economic crisis. This victory is particularly notable for the JVP, which garnered just over 3% of the votes in the 2019 election.
The election took place on Saturday, with a voter turnout of 76%, allowing 17 million Sri Lankans to participate in the democratic process.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake Wins Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a left-leaning candidate, won Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Sunday, calling it a “vote for change.” This election was significant as it was the first held since the country’s economic crisis in 2022, with voters going to the polls on Saturday.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who comes from a non-political background, consistently led in the polls, ultimately defeating the current president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and opposition leader, Sajith Premadasa. He is now the 10th president of Sri Lanka.
The election also tested Wickremesinghe’s leadership, as he had guided the nation through economic recovery after the financial collapse in 2022. However, the austerity measures implemented during this period negatively impacted his chances of winning, and he finished third with 17% of the votes.
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Sri Lanks Election Results Highlight Challenges
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa secured second place in the election, receiving 32.76% of the votes. Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who managed the country during its economic crisis in 2022, came in third with 17.27%. Although Wickremesinghe has not officially conceded, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry stated that it is evident Dissanayake has won.
This election was viewed as a referendum on Wickremesinghe’s leadership during Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery. His government took over after a nationwide uprising in 2022 and has been managing a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at stabilizing the economy.
However, Wickremesinghe’s stringent austerity measures, which included tax increases and reductions in social spending, have led to significant public discontent, with poverty levels rising and living expenses soaring.
Dissanayake’s Campaign to Renegotiate the IMF Deal
Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s campaign resonated with citizens frustrated by the current economic situation. He promised to renegotiate the terms of the IMF deal to lessen the financial strain on everyday people.
Bimal Ratnayake, a senior member of Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s party, explained, “The IMF agreement is binding, but it has provisions for renegotiation. We won’t cancel the deal, but we can adjust it to reduce hardships.” He also mentioned plans to lower taxes on essential items like food and medicine, which were increased under former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s austerity measures.
Despite the calm during Saturday’s voting, authorities enforced a nationwide curfew until midday Sunday as a precaution. Thousands of police were on duty to maintain order, and while no major incidents occurred, officials have prohibited victory rallies and public celebrations for a week after the election results.
Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery
Sri Lanka’s economy is still struggling, even with some improvements since it defaulted on $83 billion in foreign debt in 2022. Recently, the outgoing government announced a preliminary agreement with private bondholders to restructure $17 billion in debt, a crucial step for its economic recovery.
However, public anger remains high due to increased taxes and rising living costs, which significantly influenced Dissanayake’s electoral success.
Dissanayake’s party aimed to reassure India that his administration would avoid getting involved in the geopolitical tensions between India and China, Sri Lanka’s largest lender, according to AFP.
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FAQs
Q.1. Who is Anura Kumara Dissanayake?
Ans. Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the leader of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) and the newly elected president of Sri Lanka, winning the election with 42.31% of the votes.
Q.2. What were the key issues in the Sri Lankan election?
Ans. The election focused on economic recovery, high living costs, and public discontent over austerity measures implemented by the outgoing government.
Q.3. What is Dissanayake’s plan for the economy?
Ans. Dissanayake plans to renegotiate the IMF deal to alleviate financial burdens on citizens and reduce taxes on essential items like food and medicine.
Q.4. What was the voter turnout in the election?
Ans. The voter turnout for the election was 76%, with approximately 17 million Sri Lankans participating in the democratic process.
Q.5. What challenges does Dissanayake face as president?
Ans. Dissanayake faces the challenge of addressing public anger over high taxes and rising living costs while managing ongoing economic recovery efforts.
