Sri Lankans made history by electing Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake as their new president, choosing to put their faith in his promise to combat corruption and strengthen the country’s fragile economy after a severe financial crisis. Dissanayake, a 55-year-old candidate without a political background like some of his competitors, led the election from the beginning till the end, defeating incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa.
After his victory, Dissanayake expressed his commitment to turning the country around and building a stable government for progress. The election marked a turning point for Wickremesinghe, who finished third with 17% of the votes, signaling dissatisfaction with the austerity measures implemented during his tenure.
The election system, requiring a second tally of votes due to no candidate reaching 50% in the initial count, saw Dissanayake securing 42.3% of the votes. With voter turnout at 75%, Sri Lankans expressed their desire for change following the economic hardships faced by the nation.
Despite initial concerns raised by his manifesto, Dissanayake assured investors of a consultative approach towards fiscal policy changes and debt repayment. As the new president, he aims to dissolve parliament for fresh elections to implement his proposed policies.