Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumar Dissanayake has been sworn in, promising “clear” politics because the nation recovers from its worst financial disaster.
The left-leaning Dissanayake has positioned himself as a disruptor of the established order, with analysts seeing his victory as a rejection of the corruption and cronyism that has lengthy plagued the nation.
Saturday’s election is the primary since 2022, when financial discontent sparked mass protests and ousted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa from energy.
“We have to construct a brand new political tradition of integrity,” he stated. “I’m dedicated to attaining this aim. We’ll do our greatest to win again the folks’s respect and belief within the political system.”
The 55-year-old, often known as AKD, advised Sri Lankans that “democracy doesn’t finish with the appointment of a frontrunner”.
“We have to strengthen democracy. I promise to do my finest to safeguard democracy,” he stated.
“I’ve stated it earlier than, I am not a magician, I am a personal citizen. There are issues I do know and there are issues I do not know. My final aim is to deliver collectively individuals who have the data and abilities to assist elevate this nation up.”
Dissanayake obtained Buddhist blessings on the finish of his speech. Representatives of Sri Lanka’s different religions – Islam, Hinduism and Christianity – additionally attended the swearing-in ceremony, underscoring the brand new president’s emphasis on variety.
“The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and all Sri Lankans is the cornerstone of this new starting,” Dissanayake stated in an announcement issued on the eve of the ceremony.
Through the marketing campaign, Dissanayake promised voters good governance and strict anti-corruption measures.
He promised to develop Sri Lanka’s manufacturing, agriculture and knowledge expertise industries. He additionally pledged to proceed an settlement with the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) to assist Sri Lanka emerge from the financial disaster whereas lowering the impression of austerity measures on the nation’s poorest folks.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned earlier than Dissanayake was sworn in, paving the way in which for the dissolution of parliament.
Dissanayake earlier advised BBC Sinhala in an interview that he would dissolve Parliament quickly after being elected.
He stated on the time: “There is no such thing as a level in persevering with if Parliament will not be aligned with the needs of the folks.”
Dissanayake received after votes had been counted into the second spherical on Sunday, as no candidate was capable of win greater than 50% of the entire vote within the first spherical.
After counting the president’s second and third votes, the electoral fee stated Dissanayake received with a complete of 5,740,179 votes.
Opposition chief Sajith Premadasa got here second with 4,530,902 votes. Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe obtained 2,299,767 votes within the first spherical and was excluded from the second spherical.
Wickremesinghe congratulated his successor, saying: “With love and respect for this beloved nation, I entrust its future to the brand new president”.
As of this weekend’s voting, Sri Lanka’s eight presidential elections since 1982 have resulted in a winner within the first spherical of counting. The ballot has been described as one of many closest within the nation’s historical past.
Dissanayake’s anti-corruption platform resonates strongly with voters who’ve been calling for systemic change because the disaster.
This allowed him to beat his concern of the violent previous of the Marxist celebration Janata Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), which launched two armed rebellions towards the Sri Lankan authorities within the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties.
Dissanayake’s alliance, the Nationwide Individuals’s Energy (of which the JVP is part) rose to prominence through the 2022 protests, dubbed “Aragalaya” – the “Sinhala battle”.
In recent times, Dissanayake has additionally sought to average his celebration’s far-left stance.
The nation’s new president will face the twin activity of reviving the economic system and lifting tens of millions of individuals out of utmost poverty.
The financial collapse fueled the Alagalaya rebellion, which ousted Rajapaksa from the presidential palace in 2022.
On the time, Sri Lanka’s overseas change reserves had dried up, leaving the nation unable to import important items akin to gas. Public debt ballooned to $83 billion, whereas inflation soared to 70%.
This makes primary requirements akin to meals and medication unaffordable for extraordinary folks.
The nation’s financial woes have been blamed on main coverage errors, weak exports and years of tax income shortfalls. The state of affairs has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed tourism, a key financial driver.
Nevertheless, many additionally blame it on corruption and mismanagement, fueling anger towards Rajapaksa and his household, who’ve dominated Sri Lanka collectively for greater than a decade.
“Essentially the most severe problem is how one can revive the economic system,” Dr Atulathri Samarakom, a political scientist on the Open College of Sri Lanka, advised BBC Sinhala.
throughout his time period of workplace Wickremesinghe obtained a $2.9 billion lifeline from the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF), which was essential to opening up extra financing channels however was accompanied by strict financial and governance coverage reforms.
Sri Lanka is restructuring debt reimbursement phrases with home and overseas lenders on the request of the Worldwide Financial Fund. The principle focus is the nation’s $36 billion value of overseas debt, $7 billion of which is owed to China, its largest bilateral creditor.
Like Dissanayake, Premadasa additionally promotes IT growth and the institution of 25 new industrial zones. He stated tourism needs to be supported to make it the nation’s largest overseas change earner.
Throughout his marketing campaign, Wickremesinghe stated he would double vacationer numbers and set up a nationwide wealth fund, in addition to new financial zones to spur development.
Extra BBC Sinhala reporting
