Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist-leaning politician, has become the new president of Sri Lanka after winning the recent election. Dissanayake, who leads the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party, has promised a cleaner political culture and to fight corruption. He plans to renegotiate the IMF bailout deal to make austerity measures more bearable for the disadvantaged. Dissanayake faces economic challenges in a country deeply fractured after austerity measures imposed under the outgoing president.
To implement his political plans, Dissanayake will need the support of parliament, where his NPP party has only three seats against the SLPP’s 145. He has proposed to dissolve the current parliament and call for new elections to better reflect public will after mass protests in 2022. Opinion polls suggest a close race between the SJB and NPP parties, which could lead to a cohabitation government, posing challenges for policy consistency.
Dissanayake’s presidency also raises questions about his approach to Tamil issues, as he did not receive significant support from Tamil voters. He has called for unity and received optimism from Tamil leaders that he will avoid sectarian politics. Overall, Dissanayake’s presidency marks a new chapter for Sri Lanka, with challenges ahead in terms of economic reforms, political maneuvering, and ethnic reconciliation.
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