Author: Uditha Jayasinghe, Sudipto Ganguly

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%…