Anura Kumara Dissanayake wins Sri Lanka's presidential election after 2nd round

New Delhi, Sep 22: Left-leaning politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka's presidential election, following a second round of counting. No candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the initial count, which saw Dissanayake lead with 42.31%, followed by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa at 32.76%.

Dissanayake, who campaigned on promises of good governance and strong anti-corruption measures, won the presidency after the Election Commission tallied voters' second and third preferences. His victory marks a major leap in Sri Lankan history, as all previous presidential elections since 1982 were decided in the first round.

The election, held on Saturday, was the first since the mass protests of 2022, which toppled then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid the country’s worst economic crisis. Voter turnout was massive with much enthusiasm and around 76% of voters cast their ballots. There were 17 million voters. In a message posted on social media platform X, Dissanayake, dedicated his win to the people of Sri Lanka, saying, "This victory belongs to us all."

The final count showed Dissanayake securing 5,740,179 votes, while Premadasa garnered 4,530,902. To tackle the country's economic challenges, Dissanayake has pledged to strengthen the manufacturing, agriculture, and IT sectors. He has also vowed to continue the bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while working to minimise the impact of austerity measures on the most vulnerable populations.

This election has been described as one of the closest in Sri Lanka’s history. Despite the tension, the Election Commission reported that it was the most peaceful poll in the nation’s history. However, police imposed a curfew late Saturday night for "public safety," which was lifted by noon the following day.

Media said that Dissanayake's ability to garner widespread support reflects a significant shift in public sentiment, overcoming the controversial history of his political party, the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which led two armed insurrections against the Sri Lankan state in the 1970s and 80s.

Dissanayake coalition, the National People’s Party (NPP), gained prominence during the 2022 protests, known locally as the "Aragalaya," meaning struggle in Sinhala. In recent years, Dissanayake has worked to moderate the JVP’s hard-left stance, positioning himself as a pragmatic leader capable of guiding the country through its economic crisis.

Challenges Ahead for the New President

Dissanayake's victory comes with a lot of challenges. The new president will have to navigate a complex economic landscape, with the country still reeling from the fallout of the 2022 crisis. At the height of the crisis, Sri Lanka's foreign currency reserves were depleted, leaving the nation unable to import essential goods like fuel and medicine. Public debt soared to $83 billion, while inflation peaked at 70%.

The crisis has been widely blamed on policy missteps, weak exports, and under-taxation, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic's devastating impact on tourism, a vital economic sector. Many also cite corruption and mismanagement by the Rajapaksa family, who dominated Sri Lankan politics for over a decade, as contributing factors to the nation's woes.

As Sri Lanka looks ahead, the new administration will need to balance immediate economic recovery with long-term structural reforms, all while maintaining the trust of a populace yearning for change.