Sri Lanka - September 2024
Left-leaning candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake wins presidential election
Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election held on 21 September, securing 42.3 per cent of the vote. A record 38 contenders took part in the initial presidential race, with no female candidates. The election was widely seen as a three-way contest between Dissanayake, incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. Voter turnout was approximately 79.5 per cent, a slight decrease from 83.7 per cent in the 2019 election. Election observers noted that the election was peaceful and well-organized, despite some concerns regarding the misuse of state resources, enforcement of campaign finance law, and voter education. Dissanayake was sworn in as president on 23 September, after which he dissolved parliament to make way for a snap general election on 14 November 2024. The president also appointed his ally, Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister, marking the third woman to hold this position in Sri Lanka’s history.
Sources: Election Commission of Sri Lanka, The Commonwealth, BBC News, The New York Times, ANFREL
