Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist-leaning lawmaker, is on the path to becoming Sri Lanka’s next president, according to initial tallies from the 2024 presidential election. With just over a million votes counted, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has claimed 42% of the vote, placing him significantly ahead of his rivals. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa is in second place with 33%, while the current President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, trails in third with around 17%, according to reports.

This election, held on September 21, was pivotal for Sri Lanka as it grapples with the aftermath of widespread protests and the 2022 economic crisis. Dissanayake’s NPP, which emerged from the Marxist-oriented Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), positions itself as a force for systemic change, appealing to voters disillusioned by the country’s traditional political establishment. His campaign focuses on breaking what he calls “a cycle of corruption and mismanagement” that has plagued Sri Lankan politics for decades.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered with us because they hope for a better future. The first step of that journey will begin on 22 September,” he told supporters at a rally in Galle just days before the election.

Early Life and Education

Born into a working-class family in Thambuttegama, about 100 km from Colombo, Dissanayake was the first student from his village to attend university. He initially enrolled at the University of Peradeniya but later transferred to the University of Kelaniya due to threats he faced for his political activism. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1995 and soon became deeply involved in student politics, joining the JVP in 1987.

Reflecting on his early years, Dissanayake said in an interview with Daily Mirror, “I was never interested in getting a job and settling down. Politics was my passion. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to transform and improve our society.”

Political Ascent

Dissanayake’s political rise began in earnest in 2000 when he was elected to parliament from the Colombo district. By 1998, he had joined the JVP’s politburo, its key decision-making body. His role grew when the JVP formed an alliance with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) for the 2004 parliamentary elections, during which he served as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation. However, after disagreements within the coalition, he resigned from his ministerial position in 2005.

In 2014, Dissanayake became the leader of the JVP, succeeding Somawansa Amarasinghe. Under his leadership, the party sought to distance itself from its violent past, particularly the failed JVP insurrections of 1971 and 1987. Acknowledging the party’s role in these events, Dissanayake publicly expressed remorse for the violence. “The 1988/89 period was a tremendous shock to us… things which should never have happened. We admit that,” he said.

The 2024 Presidential Race

Dissanayake first ran for president in 2019, where he secured only about 3% of the vote. However, following Sri Lanka’s economic collapse in 2022, his popularity surged. The JVP, now rebranded as the NPP, centred its campaign around public dissatisfaction, focusing on anti-corruption and the need for systemic change.

Throughout his campaign, Dissanayake has emphasized the importance of accountability, arguing that previous leaders failed to address the root causes of Sri Lanka’s crises. His manifesto calls for substantial reforms in education, public health services, and housing.

With strong voter support and a platform of change, Dissanayake is poised to become the next president, marking a new chapter in Sri Lankan politics.