Sri Lanka’s presidential election a test for current leader, 2 years after its economy hit bottom
Associated PressSEP 20 2024
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, popularly known as AKD, of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), or People's Liberation Front, took his oath as Sri Lanka's new president on Monday.Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the People's Liberation Front or Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People's Power (NPP) alliance, took his oath as Sri Lanka's new president on Monday.
A day earlier, the country's election commission announced that the leader of the National People's Power (NPP) alliance had won Saturday's elections — the first since mass protests broke out in 2022 amid economic turmoil.A day earlier, the country's election commission announced that Dissanayake had won Saturday's election — the first since mass protests broke out in 2022 amid economic turmoil.
AKD received 42.3% of the votes, while opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe secured 32.8% and 17% to finish second and third, respectively. Voter turnout was at about 75% of the 17M eligible voters.Dissanayake received 42.3% of the votes, while opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe secured 32.8% and 17%, respectively. The country recorded a voter turnout of about 75%.
The people of Sri Lanka, fed up with the corrupt political elite that has brought the country to an economic meltdown asand well as with the debt and austerity measures imposed by the IMF, have decided to vote for change and economic sovereignty. There'sDissanayake still has a long way forto AKDgo to deliver on his promises, but his victory offers hope offor a better future.
First and foremost, Dissanayake must realize that his victory by no means suggests a national endorsement of his alliance's Marxist manifest, given that more than half of the country didn't vote for him. It's pressing that the new president acts atin the best interest of the nation, managing a moderate campaign to deliver real change.