Dissanayake Elected Sri Lanka President

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Marxist leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has been elected as the new president of Sri Lanka, marking a significant political shift following the country's severe economic crisis in 2022. Dissanayake secured 42.31% of the vote, defeating incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. His victory is seen as a response to public discontent with the previous administration's austerity measures. Dissanayake has pledged to fight corruption and modify the terms of the IMF bailout to deliver tax cuts. Despite JVP's historical anti-India stance, Dissanayake has expressed a desire to strengthen ties with India, reflecting a pragmatic approach to international relations. His presidency represents a move towards addressing the economic hardships and political transformation in Sri Lanka.