Anura Kumara Dissanayake is Sri Lanka’s Marxist leader and President.
Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been declared Sri Lanka’s next President on Sunday, marking a significant political shift in the country. Dissanayake, a prominent figure from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), is known for his staunch Marxist ideology and focus on social justice and economic equality. His rise to the presidency reflects growing public discontent with traditional political parties amidst the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Dissanayake’s leadership is expected to prioritize reforms aimed at addressing corruption, income inequality, and poverty, as well as rebuilding the country’s battered economy in a turbulent time.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the 55-year-old leader of the People’s Liberation Front (Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, JVP), has been declared Sri Lanka’s next President. He secured 42.31 percent of the vote in the presidential election held on Saturday, the Election Commission announced. Dissanayake’s victory represents a significant political shift for Sri Lanka, as he assumes leadership amid an ongoing economic crisis and growing public discontent with the country’s traditional political parties.
The 2024 presidential election, which was contested by 38 candidates, became a largely three-way race between Dissanayake, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), came in second place with 32.76 percent of the vote. Wickremesinghe, who took office at the height of Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic collapse and implemented tough austerity policies to secure an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, finished in a distant third with 17.27 percent, according to reports by AFP.
Dissanayake’s win comes at a time when Sri Lanka is still reeling from the devastating economic crisis that erupted in 2022, which saw the country default on its external debt for the first time in history. The crisis led to widespread protests, forcing then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign. Wickremesinghe was elected by a parliamentary vote in July 2022 to complete the remainder of Rajapaksa’s five-year term, but his presidency was marred by public anger over his handling of the crisis and the severe austerity measures that followed.
Dissanayake, who leads both the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition and the JVP, has positioned himself as a voice for change, attracting voters who are disillusioned with the country’s deeply entrenched political elite. His campaign focused on anti-corruption, social justice, and economic reforms aimed at reducing income inequality and poverty. The NPP, under Dissanayake’s leadership, has called for a more transparent and accountable government, advocating for reforms to address the issues that contributed to Sri Lanka’s economic downfall.
The JVP, from which Dissanayake’s political career originated, is a Marxist-oriented political group that has historically championed the causes of social justice, workers’ rights, and anti-corruption. The party has long been a prominent force in Sri Lankan politics, with a focus on mobilizing working-class and rural voters. Over the years, the JVP has evolved from its revolutionary roots into a more mainstream political force, while retaining its commitment to socialist principles.
Born on November 24, 1968, in Galewela, a small village in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, Dissanayake moved to Kekirawa at the age of four. He excelled academically, becoming the first student from his school to qualify for university, a rare achievement in his rural community. His entry into politics came through the JVP, and his political career gained prominence in 2004 when he contested the parliamentary elections from the Kurunegala district.
Dissanayake’s rise within the JVP was swift. In 2004, after winning his seat in Parliament, he was appointed as a Cabinet minister in the coalition government of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he resigned from his post a year later due to disagreements within the government. His commitment to his party and its core values remained strong, and in January 2014, he ascended to the leadership of the JVP, succeeding Somawansa Amarasinghe.
Under Dissanayake’s leadership, the JVP has gained a stronger foothold in Sri Lankan politics. In the 2015 general elections, he contested from the Colombo district and was successfully re-elected. He went on to serve as the Chief Opposition Whip in Parliament, using his position to advocate for reforms and challenge the ruling government’s policies.
Dissanayake’s election as President marks a new chapter for Sri Lanka, with many hoping that his leadership will bring about the changes needed to address the country’s deep-rooted issues of corruption, inequality, and economic instability. His ability to navigate the complex political landscape and implement meaningful reforms will be critical as Sri Lanka continues to recover from the worst economic crisis in its modern history.