Leftist leader secures victory in Sri Lanka election, signaling a major political shift
Leftist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake has secured victory in Sri Lanka’s presidential election following a historic second round of counting.
In the first round, no candidate surpassed the 50% threshold, with Dissanayake leading at 42.31% and his closest competitor, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, trailing with 32.76%. However, Dissanayake, who campaigned on promises of good governance and strict anti-corruption policies, clinched the win after the second count, which included voters' second and third preferences.
This election, held on Saturday, marks the first since mass protests in 2022 led to the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, following Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake beat his rivals after a historic second round of vote counting.
