Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party and the candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, has been declared the winner in the presidential election in Sri Lanka for the second time.
On Sunday, September 22, at 7 PM local time, the country’s Election Commission, led by R.L.A.M. Ratnayake, announced Dissanayake as the victor.
In the election held on Saturday, September 21, no candidate received more than 50 percent of the votes, necessitating a recount that considered second and third-choice candidates. This marked the first time in Sri Lankan history that a presidential election required a second round of counting.
The newly elected president is expected to take the oath of office on Monday, September 23.
It’s important to note that Sri Lanka faced its worst economic crisis in 2022, which led to widespread protests and the ousting of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This election is the first to be held in the country since that crisis, with over 17 million voters participating.
Since 1982, every presidential election in Sri Lanka has determined a winner in the first round; this is the first time it has gone to a second round. The Election Commission has stated that this was one of the most peaceful elections in Sri Lankan history. However, police announced a curfew late Saturday night for “public safety.”
