Sri Lanka’s new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has been sworn in, pledging to usher in “clean” politics as the nation recovers from its worst economic crisis. Dissanayake, a left-leaning politician, has positioned himself as a reformer, with his victory seen by analysts as a rejection of the corruption and cronyism that have long plagued Sri Lanka.
Saturday’s election marked the first since 2022, when widespread economic discontent sparked mass protests and led to the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In his inaugural speech, Dissanayake emphasized the need for a new political culture, vowing, “We need to establish a new clean political culture. I commit to achieving this. We will do our utmost to win back the people’s respect and trust in the political system.”
The 55-year-old president, commonly known as AKD, stressed that democracy goes beyond merely electing a leader. “We need to strengthen democracy. I pledge to safeguard it,” he said. Dissanayake also highlighted his collaborative approach, acknowledging, “I am not a magician—I am an ordinary citizen. My goal is to gather experts to help lift this country.”
In a symbolic gesture, Dissanayake received a Buddhist blessing at the end of his address, with representatives of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity also present, reflecting his focus on inclusivity. He reiterated the importance of unity, stating, “The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the foundation of this new beginning.”
Throughout his campaign, Dissanayake promised good governance and strong anti-corruption measures. He has committed to bolstering Sri Lanka’s manufacturing, agriculture, and IT sectors, and plans to uphold the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while mitigating the austerity measures’ impact on the poorest citizens.
Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned before the swearing-in, allowing for the dissolution of parliament. In a prior interview, Dissanayake signaled his intent to dissolve the current parliament soon after taking office, stating, “There is no point in continuing with a parliament that does not reflect the will of the people.”
Dissanayake secured victory in a runoff election after no candidate managed to secure over 50% of the vote in the first round. The Election Commission declared him the winner with 5,740,179 votes, ahead of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who received 4,530,902 votes. Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe was eliminated after receiving 2,299,767 votes in the first round.
