Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) was sworn in as the 9th President of Sri Lanka on Monday. This is the first time that a leftist leader has taken charge as the head of state.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, where Dissanayake was administered the oath by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.
When the votes were counted after the polling, Anura Kumara Dissanaya of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and Samagi Jana Sandhanaya candidate Sajith Premadasa failed to secure the required vote percentage, due to which second preference votes were counted for the post of President. This is the first time that counting of second preference votes was required for the post of President in the election.
The final result was announced by the Election Commission at 7 pm on Sunday. According to the Election Commission, Dissanayake won the presidential election with 42.31 percent of the votes, while Premadasa came in second place and current President Ranil Wickremesinghe came in third. Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe was eliminated after the first round of elections.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Dissanayake on winning the presidential election.
In a post on social media platform X late Sunday night, PM Modi said, Congratulations to Anura Dissanayake for winning the Sri Lankan presidential election. Sri Lanka has an important place in India’s Neighborhood First Policy and Vision Sagar. I look forward to working together with you to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation, so that our people and the entire region benefit.
Dissanayake thanked Prime Minister Modi on the congratulatory post and posted that, PM Modi, thank you for your support. I share your commitment to strengthen the relations between our countries. We can work together to enhance cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his victory in the Sri Lankan presidential election. He described it as important for strengthening bilateral relations.
Congratulating through a post on the social media platform X, Congress President Kharge wrote, I heartily congratulate Anura Kumara Dissanayake on being elected as the Acting President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on behalf of the Indian National Congress.
The Congress President said that India and Sri Lanka have a centuries-old rich heritage of cooperation and dialogue. We look forward to strengthening our relations and shared values.
After Dissanayake’s victory was announced on Sunday, one of the first people to meet him was the Indian High Commissioner.
India provided decisive political and economic support to Sri Lanka during the economic crisis in Sri Lanka in 2022, which greatly strengthened the relations between the two countries. India showed unwavering commitment to its neighbor in times of dire need. India provided US$4.5 billion in cash and resources to neighbouring Sri Lanka during its economic crisis in 2022.
