The election, held on Saturday, saw Dissanayake lead over veteran political figures such as incumbent President Wickremesinghe and Opposition leader Premadasa….reports Asian Lite News
Anura Dissanayake, leader of the Marxist-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party, was sworn in on Monday as the ninth President of Sri Lanka, marking a historic moment as the country’s first leftist head of state.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, where Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya administered the oath.
The result was decided Sunday evening after Sri Lanka’s first-ever presidential run-off with the counting of second preference votes following both Dissanayake and Samagi Jana Sandhanaya candidate Sajith Premadasa failing to get the required percentage of votes.
“The dream we have nurtured for centuries is finally coming true. This achievement is not the result of any single person’s work, but the collective effort of hundreds of thousands of you. Your commitment has brought us this far, and for that, I am deeply grateful. This victory belongs to all of us,” 55-year-old Dissanayake, also popularly known as AKD, said in a post on X after the final result was announced by the Lankan Election Commission post 7 p.m on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Dissanayake on securing the win.
“Congratulations Anura Disanayake, on your victory in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections. Sri Lanka holds a special place in India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region,” Prime Minister Modi said in a post on social media platform X late Sunday.
Thanking PM Modi, Dissanayake posted, “Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for your kind words and support. I share your commitment to strengthening the ties between our nations. Together, we can work towards enhancing cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the entire region.”
Indian High Commissioner was one of the first to meet Dissanayake on Sunday following his victory announcement.
“HC Santosh Jha called on Sri Lankan President-elect Anura Dissanayake. Conveyed greetings from India’s leadership and congratulated him on winning the people’s mandate. India as Sri Lanka’s civilisational twin is committed to further deepen ties for the prosperity of the people of our two countries,” the High Commission posted on X.
India’s decisive political and economic support during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis truly solidified the relationship. In its time of dire need, India extended a lifeline of US$4.5 billion in cash and resources, showcasing an unwavering commitment to its neighbour and elevating the bilateral ties to new levels of trust and cooperation.
According to Sri Lanka’s Election Commission, Dissanayake won the presidency with 42.31 per cent of the vote, with Premadasa finishing second and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was eliminated after the first round, in third position.
The leader has been a key figure in Sri Lanka’s political discourse for some time now.
The election, held on Saturday, saw Dissanayake lead over veteran political figures such as incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition leader Premadasa.
Saved people from hunger and sorrow, says Wickremesinghe
In a special address following his election loss, outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Sri Lanka for the mandate granted during the 21st presidential election and acknowledged that, in accordance with the will of the people, the leadership of the country should now be passed on to winner Anura Dissanayake of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party.
The result was decided Sunday evening after Sri Lanka’s first-ever presidential run-off with the counting of second preference votes as both Dissanayake and Samagi Jana Sandhanaya party’s Sajith Premadasa failed to get the required percentage of votes.
The Lankan Election Commission announced that Dissanayake won the presidency with 42.31 per cent of the vote share with Premadasa finishing second and incumbent President Wickremesinghe, who was eliminated after the first round, ending in third position.
“President Anura Dissanayake, With deepest affection, I entrust to you the beloved child of Sri Lanka,” Wickremesinghe said as he began his address to the people of the island nation.
The Lankan President extended his sincere thanks to all those who supported him during his tenure and reflected on his role as a caretaker, stating that he had guided “the beloved child of Sri Lanka” across significant challenges, symbolized by the “Vine Bridge”.
“Two years ago, I took over a bankrupt country and a collapsed economy at an extremely turbulent time. I accepted the challenge at a time when no one else had the courage to face it. I successfully completed the responsibility that history put upon my shoulders. I was able to rescue my motherland from bankruptcy within a short period of two years. I believe this to be the most important thing I could do for my country during my political career,” remarked Wickremesinghe.
“Inflation was 70 per cent when I took over the country, but I could reduce it to 0.5 per cent during my time as the President. I increased the Foreign Reserve, which was at USD 20 Million when I came to power, to USD 5.7 Billion. I was able to ensure that the Sri Lankan Rupee which was 380 against the US Dollar, came down to a strong and solid amount of 300. Also, when I took over, the economic growth of the country was negative 7.3 per cent (- 7.3%). But I was able to increase it to a positive 2.3 per cent (2.3%). I am happy and proud about it,” he added.
Having gradually controlled the island nation’s worst-ever economic crisis, Wickremesinghe had asked the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to support him in the Presidential Election but eventually fought the elections as an independent candidate.
“I believe that the future generation of the country will give the proper assessment for my historical political role, the way it deserves. I am aware that my place in history as the ruler of this country will be decided not today, but in future. I followed the right path and saved people from hunger and sorrow. I hope that the new President will also follow the right path and put an end to the remaining issues that the people are facing. I was eventually able to carry the dear child called Sri Lanka along a long distance safely – on the dangerous rope bridge,” he said on Sunday.
He expressed confidence that under new President Dissanayake’s leadership, the journey will continue safely and successfully.
“Close to the very end of the rope bridge, people have decided to handover the dear child called Sri Lanka to President Anura Dissanayake. Mr. President, here I handover to you with much love, the dear child called Sri Lanka, whom we both love very dearly. I wish that you will be able to carry this child away from the bridge to the other bank, even safer than the way I carried the child. I will be devoted to serving my motherland with or without power, with or without a post or powers, for the rest of my life,” the outgoing President said while concluding his address.
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