Mumbai: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of Sri Lanka’s Marxist party, secured a historic victory in the country’s presidential election on Saturday, defeating incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Sri Lankan Election Commission confirmed on Sunday that Dissanayake, 55, won 42.31% of the vote, surpassing opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who finished second. Wickremesinghe, the sitting president, came in a distant third.
Dissanayake’s win marks a major milestone for his once-marginal party, which had previously struggled to gain mainstream political influence after leading two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that resulted in over 80,000 deaths. His election is seen as a turning point for Sri Lankan politics, with his party now poised to lead the nation.
Polling was held at more than 13,400 stations across 22 electoral districts, with around 75% of Sri Lanka’s 17 million eligible voters participating. Despite the election proceeding peacefully, the government imposed a night curfew on Saturday as a precautionary measure due to ongoing public dissatisfaction with the country’s controversial $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
In his victory speech, Dissanayake called for national unity, emphasizing the importance of bringing together Sri Lanka’s diverse communities. “The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of a new beginning,” he stated. He also expressed hope for a “fresh start” and a “new renaissance” that would rise from the strength and shared vision of all Sri Lankans.
Dissanayake’s party has announced that it will not abolish the IMF bailout agreement, despite its unpopularity among many Sri Lankans. However, the new government plans to renegotiate its terms to better align with the country’s needs.
Dissanayake is set to be sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president on Monday, bringing in a new era for the island nation as it grapples with economic challenges and seeks a path toward recovery and stability.
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