Sri Lankan Presidential Election 2024: Dissanayake and Premadasa Neck-and-Neck

In the latest update on the Sri Lankan Presidential Election 2024, Marxist-leaning lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa are locked in a tight race to become the next President of Sri Lanka. As the vote counting continues, the island nation awaits the final results keenly, this being the first election since the country experienced its worst economic crisis.

According to preliminary results released by 7 AM on Sunday, Dissanayake, 56, has emerged as a frontrunner with 727,000 votes, securing 52 percent of the total ballots counted so far. Meanwhile, Sajith Premadasa, his main contender and the leader of the opposition, garnered 333,000 votes, making up 23 percent. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on the other hand, trails significantly with just 235,000 votes, accounting for 16 percent, as reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, popularly referred to as AKD, heads the People’s Liberation Front (JVP) and the National People's Power (NPP). Born on November 24, 1968, Dissanayake is currently a serving member of the Sri Lankan Parliament. His campaign saw heightened support as he campaigned on the need for a political transformation in Sri Lanka. “Our country needs a new political culture,” he stated to AFP after casting his vote.

During his campaign, Dissanayake has emphasized policies advocating for increased state intervention and more closed-market economic strategies. An advocate for change, he has assured the populace that he would dissolve the parliament within 45 days if elected, seeking a fresh mandate in subsequent general elections. Reuters highlighted that Dissanayake’s electoral promises include renegotiating the terms of the international rescue package secured by Wickremesinghe after the government defaulted on its foreign debts.

There are concerns about Dissanayake’s perceived pro-China stance, due to his Marxist, Leninist affiliations. Reports by The Week suggest that his party’s historical ideological ties with China have raised suspicions about potential political funding from Beijing since 2021. However, Dissanayake rebuts these claims, stating in an interview with Sri Lanka that his visits to India and China were at the invitation of these governments, with all expenses covered by the respective nations.

The National People’s Power (NPP) is keen on fostering international relations to stabilize the Sri Lankan economy. Professor Anil Jayantha, a member of NPP’s national executive committee, conveyed to The Week that India is seen as a crucial partner. “Our party or our leader wants to engage with India. India is certainly our neighbour and a superpower,” he remarked, highlighting recent visits to Delhi and Kerala for an agricultural summit.