Anura Kumara Dissanayake Sworn In as Sri Lanka’s President: A Political Earthquake
The election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Sri Lanka’s president marks a political earthquake in the region. For the first time, Sri Lankans have rejected entrenched political elites and chosen a non-elite leader. Dissanayake’s background with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which engaged in armed conflicts with the Sri Lankan government in the 1970s and 1980s, makes his rise to power even more significant. Despite the violent history of the JVP, Dissanayake has transformed it into a mainstream political force.
The JVP was founded in 1965 by Rohana Wijeweera, who was inspired by Stalin and Che Guevara. The party attempted an armed insurrection in 1971, attacking 74 police stations across Sri Lanka, resulting in the deaths of 8,000 to 10,000 people. After the revolt, the party faced repression, and many leaders were imprisoned. The JVP launched another armed revolt in 1988-89, which was equally violent, claiming the lives of around 7,000 people.
In 2014, Dissanayake took leadership of the JVP and focused on rebranding it as a transparent, corruption-free party. In the 2019 elections, the JVP secured only 3% of the vote. However, in the latest elections, the party surged to 42.3%, a political shock that reflected Sri Lankans’ desire for change amidst the country’s economic crisis.
Dissanayake’s rise is seen as a rejection of traditional political parties that led Sri Lanka into chaos. His leadership of the JVP not only toned down its Marxist image but also attracted new voters with a clean and transparent image. Sri Lankans, facing their worst economic crisis, found hope in him.
Dissanayake’s ties with India, China, and the West are also under scrutiny. He had visited India earlier and met with key officials, showing interest in India’s Amul dairy model. His relationship with China, however, raises concerns for India. Strategic expert Brahma Chellaney has noted that Dissanayake’s presidency adds to India’s complex regional challenges, especially with Marxist and military-supported regimes in neighboring countries.
Dissanayake thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message and emphasized strengthening ties between the two nations. “Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for your kind words. Together, we can work to strengthen cooperation for the benefit of our people and the region,” he said.
While Dissanayake promises a new era for Sri Lanka, whether this will shift the nation away from India remains to be seen.
