Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka's 2024 presidential election, emerging victorious over his main rivals, Sajith Premadasa and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. In a closely watched race that captured the attention of the entire country.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka's 2024 Presidential Election, securing 55.89% of the total vote (with preferential votes). This marks the first time the leftist leader has won the presidency, overcoming a crowded field of candidates in a highly polarized election.
This election, which went to a second round of preferential voting due to no candidate receiving a clear majority in the first round, saw Dissanayake steadily maintaining his lead. His final tally of 5,740,179 votes outpaced Premadasa's 4,530,902, confirming a decisive victory after the preferential votes were counted. Wickremesinghe, the sitting president, and Namal Rajapaksa, a member of Sri Lanka's most influential political family, both trailed far behind, signaling a shift away from traditional powerhouses.
Initial round results showed Dissanayake leading with 5,634,915 votes, capturing 42.31% of the first preference votes. Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), followed with 4,363,035 votes (32.76%). Incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe, garnered 2,299,767 votes (17.27%), and Namal Rajapaksa, received 342,781 votes (2.57%).
Despite Dissanayake's commanding lead, he was unable to surpass the 50%+1 vote threshold required for an outright victory, pushing the election into a second round of preferential voting.
With no clear majority in the first round, the election shifted to preferential votes. Dissanayake received 105,264, while Premadasa captured a more substantial share, with 167,867 votes Although Premadasa closed the gap slightly, it was not enough to overtake Dissanayake's lead.
Ultimately, Dissanayake ended up with a total of 5,740,179 votes (55.89%), while Premadasa finished with 4,530,902 (44.11%).
This election has reshaped Sri Lanka’s political landscape. Dissanayake, representing the NPP which is an extension of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has consistently positioned himself as a champion of the working class, often railing against corruption and economic mismanagement. His victory signifies a broader shift toward more populist policies, reflecting public discontent with the established political order.
The performance of Ranil Wickremesinghe and Namal Rajapaksa signals a fading influence for the United National Party (UNP) and the Rajapaksa family in national politics. Wickremesinghe, once a powerful political figure and former president, secured only 17.27% of the vote, far from the numbers he needed to be a serious contender.
Namal Rajapaksa, representing the next generation of the Rajapaksa dynasty, fared worse, earning just 2.57%. This result could indicate a growing desire among voters to move away from the politics of legacy families, which have dominated Sri Lanka for decades.
Dissanayake now faces a steep road ahead as the new president, tasked with tackling the country’s economic crises, public distrust, and an increasingly divided society. While his win is a clear mandate for change, translating campaign promises into practical policies will be the true test of his leadership.
With this victory, the JVP has its first chance to lead the country, marking a new chapter in Sri Lanka's political history. As Dissanayake prepares to take office, Sri Lankans will be watching closely to see whether he can deliver on the sweeping reforms that many have hoped for.
