Sri Lanka Elects Anura Kumara Dissanayake as President

The 2024 elections in Sri Lanka marked a significant political shift with Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the NPP coalition being elected as the 9th executive president, a dramatic rise from his party's previous position just four years ago. Dissanayake secured 42.31% of the votes, leading the NPP to gain an unprecedented parliamentary majority, raising expectations for transformative governance. In the U.S., exit polls revealed that a majority of religious voters, particularly among Protestants and Catholics, supported Donald Trump in the recent elections, with notable increases in Hispanic Catholic support. Trump's administration is set to be heavily influenced by Catholic advisors, reflecting a shift in Catholic voting patterns toward the Republican Party. Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania pastor is advocating for unity amidst political divides, promoting the Golden Rule as a healing principle for his community. Overall, the political landscape in both Sri Lanka and the U.S. illustrates significant changes and ongoing challenges in governance and social cohesion.