Anura Kumara Dissanayake Defeats Incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe
Anura Kumara Dissanayake: In a landmark victory, Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka’s presidential election, unseating incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Dissanayake secured 42.31% of the vote, with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa finishing second and Wickremesinghe trailing in third place. The election witnessed a voter turnout of around 75%, with the majority of the country’s 17 million eligible voters casting their ballots. The election commission has formally confirmed the results, and Dissanayake is set to take the presidential oath on Monday.
Following his victory, Dissanayake called for national unity, stating, “The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the foundation of a new era.” He emphasized that this unity would fuel a “fresh start” for the nation as it embarks on a new path of development and hope.
This win marks a significant turning point for Dissanayake’s Marxist party, which had historically struggled to gain political power, particularly after leading two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that resulted in over 80,000 deaths. Now, Dissanayake’s party is poised to lead the nation, though he has promised not to scrap the controversial $2.9 billion IMF bailout agreement. Instead, he aims to renegotiate the terms of the deal, as public dissatisfaction surrounding the bailout continues to grow. Many view this election as a referendum on the IMF agreement and its impact on the country.
In a heartfelt message to his supporters, Dissanayake expressed gratitude, saying, “This victory is not the work of one individual but the collective effort of hundreds of thousands of you. Your commitment has brought us here, and for that, I am deeply grateful.” He also honored the sacrifices made by many throughout the years, acknowledging the struggles of those who fought for this cause.
Dissanayake’s victory represents a major shift in Sri Lanka’s political landscape, signaling a new direction for the nation as it navigates both domestic challenges and international expectations.
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