Young and Left-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake of People's Liberation Front became the Tenth President of Sri Lanka following a historic run-off election. After announcement final results, Dissanayake takes oath as President in Colombo.
Dissanayake won a thrilling three-way battle in the Island Country of Indian Ocean, which was on the brink of bankruptcy due to severe economic crisis. The people, fed up with the corrupt rule of the Rajapaksa family, elected Dissanayake as their president who was leaning towards Marxist policies. He got only 3% of the votes in the last election, but in this election, he won a sensational victory by getting 42.31% of the votes, using the fight against corruption as his campaign weapon.
Joining the Marxist-influenced Janata Vimukti Peramuna (JVP) in 1987, Dissanayake built his political base there. By 1998, he got a place in the Politburo.
After the financial crisis in Sri Lanka in 2022, Dissanayake filled the war shell by using the people's discontent as a weapon. He gained unprecedented popularity with the slogans of change and anti-corruption society building.
In his election speeches, Dissanayake pointed out the corruption and failures of the past rulers and explained the importance of accountability to the public. The people of Sri Lanka want a change in the political and administration system due to the economic crisis. Rajapaksa's resignation leads to the leadership vacuum in the Country. Public also felt in full of frustration, due to recent political developments. In the time of crisis, Disanayake has succeeded in impressing the youth who want change with his anti-corruption attitude.
Dissanayake, who started as a student leader and rose to President of the Country, is a sensation in Sri Lankan politics. He was born on November 24, 1968 in a labour family at Tambuttegama, 100 km from Colombo.
He studied school education locally, and the first student from his village to get admission in the university. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science, he joined the Socialist Students Association and played an active role in student politics.