Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as the president of Sri Lanka on September 23, 2024, following his victory in the presidential elections. Dissanayake, a Marxist-leaning politician, defeated incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had implemented strict austerity measures during the country's severe economic collapse in 2022.
In his inaugural address in Colombo, Dissanayake acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, 'I will work to inspire confidence of the people who did not vote for me.' He won the election by a margin of 1.27 million votes against opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, becoming the ninth individual to hold the powerful executive presidency of Sri Lanka.
The election is crucial as Sri Lanka seeks stability after a tumultuous economic period. Dissanayake emphasized the need for collective efforts to address the crisis, asserting, 'I am not a magician, I am a common citizen.' Following his swearing-in, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned, allowing Dissanayake to appoint a new prime minister and cabinet.
One of Dissanayake's significant challenges will be to navigate the austerity measures established under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. Wickremesinghe has warned that any substantial changes to the agreement could delay the release of a critical $3 billion tranche.