CIVICUS discusses Sri Lanka’s recent presidential election with Freddy Gamage, an independent journalist and human rights defender.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the left-wing National People’s Power (NPP) party, will be Sri Lanka’s next president. Dissanayake won 42.3 per cent of votes in the first round of counting, with his nearest rival on just under 33 per cent. When voters’ second preferences were counted, Dissanayake was elected with almost 56 per cent of the vote. The election was peaceful and voter turnout was high. The NPP, a classic Marxist party that has taken a more moderate direction in recent years, rose to prominence during mass protests in 2022 and ran a campaign focused on corruption and economic mismanagement. The new government will face the challenge of reviving Sri Lanka’s economy and reducing poverty.
