Clear explanation about Sri Lankan AKD

• Anura Kumar Dissanayake (AKD) of the JVP-led NPP has been elected as Sri Lanka’s President, marking a significant shift in political domination.
• AKD’s victory is attributed to his political background, being a Marxist politician and a cabinet Minister in Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s coalition government.
• AKD’s victory is seen as a significant achievement, as he is not from the dominant Sinhalese Govigama caste.

Key Challenges for AKD

• Political: AKD must consolidate his Left-inclined Sinhala support base and seek support from non-Left Sinhala and Tamil Lanka.
• Financial: AKD must balance his past ideological positions with the reality of Sri Lanka’s dependence on IMF funding.
• Financial: AKD must convince his support base about the inevitability of the self-denying austerity regimen that comes with IMF funding.
• Economic: AKD’s understanding of economic affairs is crucial for his government.
• India’s perspective: AKD faces the ideological voltage directed towards it from China, which could lead to risky promissory notes in the long term.

Renewal of the Democratic Voice

• AKD’s leadership will be crucial in navigating the language and religious fissures of his country.
• His pledge to win the trust of those who didn’t vote for him is a testament to his leadership.
• India needs to view the AKD phenomenon with faith in the self-renewing power of the democratic voice.