Sri Lanka’s Ninth Presidential Election: Change and Change

• The people of Sri Lanka voted for change in the ninth presidential election, favoring Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power (NPP).
• Dissanayake, the chief of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), received about 42% of the vote share, a significant increase from its poor performance in 2019 and 2020.
• Voter turnout was about 79.5%, reflecting the faith in the democratic system.
• Economic issues triggered the uprising, with all contenders focusing on economic issues.
• Dissanayake, despite being a Leftist, is open to private and foreign investments and plans to re negotiate with the IMF the $2.9 billion bailout agreement.
• Dissanayake must adopt a consensual path while implementing his economic policies and programmes.
• He is expected to extend his pragmatism in foreign relations, visiting India early this year.
• His electoral promise of abolishing the current executive presidency system remains uncertain, requiring understanding and cooperation from all sections of Sri Lankan society.