A previously fringe Marxist politician, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, is poised to become Sri Lanka’s next leader following a presidential vote marked by widespread dissatisfaction over the government’s handling of an unprecedented financial crisis. Early results from Saturday’s election indicate that Dissanayaka, the 55-year-old head of the People’s Liberation Front, garnered over 42% of the vote, leading by nearly 1.3 million votes against opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who received about 33%. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe trailed in third place with around 17%.
The election operates under a preferential voting system, and further counts of second-choice votes will take place before a winner is officially declared. While Wickremesinghe has not yet conceded, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry acknowledged Dissanayaka’s likely victory, stating, “Though I heavily campaigned for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision.”
Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, reflecting public frustration over hardships stemming from the crisis that peaked two years ago. Dissanayaka has committed to modifying the existing IMF deal, rather than scrapping it altogether. His party aims to reduce the income taxes that were doubled under Wickremesinghe and lower sales taxes on essential items like food and medicine.
Dissanayaka’s once-minor Marxist party had previously led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in over 80,000 deaths. Despite winning less than 4% of the vote in the last parliamentary elections in 2020, the current crisis has enabled him to gain significant support by pledging to reform the “corrupt” political landscape.
Approximately 76% of Sri Lanka’s 17.1 million eligible voters participated in Saturday’s election. Dissanayaka’s party has assured India that his administration will remain neutral in the geopolitical rivalry between India and China, emphasizing, “Sri Lankan territory will not be used against any other nation.”
Wickremesinghe had sought re-election to continue the austerity measures that stabilized the economy after months of shortages in food, fuel, and medicine. However, his tax increases and other stringent policies tied to a $2.9 billion IMF bailout have exacerbated poverty, doubling the rate to 25% between 2021 and 2022.
As voting took place, thousands of police monitored the polls, and a temporary curfew was implemented after voting ended, despite the absence of reported violence. Celebrations or victory rallies are prohibited until a week after the final results are announced.
