In a pivotal moment for Sri Lanka, Anura Dissanayake was sworn in as the nation’s new president. This marks a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s political and economic landscape.
Following months of financial challenges and public unrest, Dissanayake assumed office on Monday, with a promise of stability, reform, and renewed hope.
Anura, 55, from Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and National People’s Power (NPP) is rooted in the centre-left political tradition. His party, the JVP, emerged from the pro-China wing of the Sri Lanka Communist Party in the 1960s.
It has emerged from a dark past, of failed Marxist-inspired insurrections and mass killings to electing a President to run the country. Back in 2022, the JVP also played an active role in the mass protest that forced President Rajapaksa’s resignation.
Anura Dissanayake now faces the challenge of setting up a new cabinet and wooing the parliament. He aims to pass a budget under the terms of a $2.9-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
Investors worry that Marxist-leaning Dissanayake’s desire to revisit the terms of the country’s IMF bailout could delay future disbursements, and that he could seek to renegotiate a debt deal with bondholders finalised last week.
Modest Background
Unlike his competitors, Anura’s journey wasn’t defined by academic achievements or ethnic identity, but rather by his commitment to addressing the struggles of ordinary citizens. He was born on November 24, 1968, in Galewela; where he grew up closely connected to the hardships of Sri Lanka’s rural communities.
His political activism led him to a Marxist Lenin party, which in turn opened the doors to democratic politics, even if it was after JVP’s bloody phase.
He has stood in the presidential race on more occasions than one. As Sri Lanka now grapples with its most severe financial crisis in decades, all eyes are on the new president to steer the country towards recovery and restore public trust.
With a strong focus on unity, economic revitalization, and international cooperation, Anura faces the monumental task of leading Sri Lanka into a new era of resilience and growth.
