Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected president of Sri Lanka amid economic challenges

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Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka's presidential election, the Election Commission announced. The 55-year-old leader of the People's Liberation Front alliance won with 42.31% of the vote, becoming the country's new president. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa came in second with 32.76% of the vote, while outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been in office since 2022, finished third with 17.27%.

Dissanayake, who has been in parliament for 20 years, takes over as Sri Lanka faces a fragile economy following its worst financial crisis in decades. His victory follows a runoff, the first in the nation's history, as no candidate secured the required 50% majority in the first round.

Dissanayake is expected to be sworn in on Monday at the President Secretariat in Colombo. His campaign was marked by promises to address corruption and implement economic reforms, with supporters seeing him as a fresh voice capable of navigating the country through its ongoing economic struggles.

Outgoing President Wickremesinghe had overseen strict austerity measures under the conditions of an IMF bailout during his tenure but has yet to concede the election. Foreign Minister Ali Sabry acknowledged Dissanayake’s win as official results were announced.