Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a leftist leader, has emerged victorious in Sri Lanka’s recent presidential election, marking the beginning of a new era for the country. Defeating incumbent President Ranil Wickramasinghe and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Dissanayake secured a significant majority in Sunday’s vote count.
The Sri Lankan electorate responded to Dissanayake’s call for change by electing him as the 10th President of the nation. This election, following a severe financial crisis in 2022, holds particular significance as the country seeks to address issues of corruption and economic instability.
In the official announcement by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Dissanayake garnered 42.31% of the total votes cast, while Premadasa followed with 32.76% and Wickramasinghe received only 17% of the votes. Despite Wickramasinghe’s efforts to navigate the country through challenging times, the people’s resounding rejection was evident in the election results.
The National People’s Power (NPP) Party confirmed Dissanayake’s upcoming inauguration as President on Monday, a remarkable achievement for the candidate who previously only received 3% of the votes in the 2019 election. Dissanayake’s unexpected victory underscores a desire for change among the electorate.
Following a two-round vote count process due to no candidate initially reaching the required majority, Dissanayake emerged as the victor, emphasizing that his win represents the collective voice of the people for a new direction in Sri Lanka. Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, extended congratulations to Dissanayake and expressed India’s commitment to collaborating under his leadership to bolster bilateral relations.
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