Dissanayake, 56 year old leader national manpower The (NPP) coalition won the presidential election by a narrow margin as counting entered the second round – a first in the island nation’s history.
Sri Lanka’s Election Commission formally announced the results on Sunday evening, confirming that Dissanayake had defeated incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Dissanayake won the presidency with 42.31% of the vote, with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa coming in second and Wickremesinghe third, the commission said on its website. Dissanayake is due to be sworn in on Monday.
The election, billed as a three-cornered contest, was seen as a referendum on economic reforms aimed at pulling Sri Lanka out of its severe economic crisis. Many voters were primarily concerned about rising inflation, rising cost of living and growing poverty in the country.
Dissanayake’s victory marks a significant shift in Sri Lankan politics, as the country grapples with the aftermath of massive protests that ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa from power in 2022.
The new President will face the challenge of leading the country towards economic recovery while addressing burning issues such as inflation and cost of living.
What is his attitude towards India?
Dissanayake is the leader of the historically anti-India Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP,
The late Rohana Wijeweera, the JVP’s founding leader, lectured on “Indian expansionism” in the 1980s and described India as “an enemy of Sri Lankan interests.” The party also strongly opposed the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 – signed by Sri Lanka’s then President JR Jayewardene and India’s Rajiv Gandhi.
After the signing of the agreement, the JVP led a rebellion against Indian influence in Sri Lanka. It was violently suppressed by government forces.
Despite his party’s anti-India record and pro-China tilt, Dissanayake has expressed a desire to engage with India and maintain cordial relations.
Sri Lanka’s new president has signalled a shift in his stance, indicating a readiness to work with various international actors, including India, which has significant interests in Sri Lanka. However, he has also said that Sri Lanka will not be beholden to any power in the geopolitical race between India and China.
In interviews with the media prior to the elections Dissanayake outlined his key policies:
- Ensuring that Sri Lanka’s sea, land and airspace are not used in a manner that threatens India or regional stability.
- Recognizing the importance of India’s support to development efforts, carefully considering the impact of economic measures on Sri Lanka.
- Protecting regional security while taking advantage of economic opportunities for the benefit of Sri Lanka.
- To adopt a strong foreign policy that is in tune with global conditions and effectively serves Sri Lanka’s national interests.
Visit to India
In early February 2024, Dissanayake visited New Delhi at the invitation of the Indian government and met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral ties and the mutual benefits of further deepening the relationship. Jaishankar emphasized that India with its Neighbourhood First and SAGAR policies will always remain a reliable friend and trusted partner of Sri Lanka.
Responding to media queries after his return from New Delhi, Dissanayake had insisted that the high-level meetings with India did not indicate any change in the party’s “political or economic policies”.
“We can gain a lot from India in areas like information technology,” he said, adding that the NPP was looking forward to India’s assistance in such areas.
“We are hoping to bring about change in the country by leading the people and for this change we need international support… we will need capital and technology. We cannot win as an isolated country, we need to strengthen international ties,” Dissanayake said.
Striking a Balance
Dissanayake’s diplomatic approach represents a significant shift from the strategies adopted by previous Sri Lankan leaders. Unlike his predecessors, Dissanayake has pursued a more proactive and balanced foreign policy aimed at strengthening ties with various global powers, including India and China.
Previous Sri Lankan leaders have often been seen as more closely aligned with India or China, leading to concerns about over-dependence and geopolitical tensions. Dissanayake’s balanced approach represents a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, emphasising non-alignment and the pursuit of Sri Lanka’s national interests on the global stage.
- Non-Aligned Foreign Policy: Central to Dissanayake’s strategy is a commitment to a non-aligned foreign policy. This approach seeks to maintain a delicate balance between India and China, allowing Sri Lanka to engage with both powers without becoming overly dependent on either. Dissanayake’s recent diplomatic outreach to India, including a visit in February 2024, reflects this strategy. During his meetings with Indian officials, he emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral ties while upholding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and interests.
- Economic Participation: Dissanayake recognises the economic importance of both India and China to Sri Lanka’s recovery from its recent economic crisis. He has expressed intentions to invite foreign investment in areas where Sri Lanka lacks capacity, such as renewable energy. By fostering economic partnerships with both countries, he aims to leverage their investments for national development. This pragmatic approach is designed to increase Sri Lanka’s economic resilience while avoiding the pitfalls of debt dependency that have characterised past engagements, particularly with China.
- National/Maritime Security: Dissanayake has given assurances that his administration will maintain cordial relations with India in matters of national security and defence. This assurance is significant given India’s historical concerns about China’s growing influence in the region, especially after the controversial leasing of the Hambantota port to a Chinese firm. Dissanayake’s stance reflects an awareness of India’s strategic interests and a desire to mitigate any potential security risks arising from China’s presence in Sri Lanka.
