In a significant political shift for Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the 55-year-old leader of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), has won the presidential election, securing 42.31% of the vote. His victory marks a major turnaround for the left-wing party, which only garnered 3% of the vote in the 2019 election.
Dissanayake’s election is seen as a rejection of the traditional political establishment, particularly amid public dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the 2022 economic collapse.
Key Election Results:
- Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition, came in second with 32.76% of the vote.
- Outgoing president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had led Sri Lanka through the IMF-backed recovery process, came in third with 17.27%. Wickremesinghe’s administration faced heavy criticism for its austerity measures, including tax hikes and cuts to social spending.
Dissanayake’s Promises:
- He aims to renegotiate the terms of the IMF bailout to reduce the economic burden on ordinary citizens, focusing on reducing taxes on essential goods like food and medicine.
- He expressed a desire to balance Sri Lanka’s geopolitical relationships, assuring India that his administration would avoid becoming entangled in rivalries, particularly with China, the country’s largest lender.
Voter Turnout and Security:
The election saw a 76% voter turnout, with 17 million Sri Lankans eligible to vote. Despite a peaceful election, authorities imposed a nationwide curfew until Sunday to maintain order.
Dissanayake is set to be sworn in on Monday at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. His rise to power signals a significant shift in Sri Lankan politics, with a focus on addressing economic hardships and reducing reliance on foreign debt restructuring.
Stay tuned for further updates on Sri Lanka’s political landscape and Dissanayake’s administration’s impact on the nation’s economic recovery.
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