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Anura Kumara Dissanayake inaugurated as Sri Lanka president, pledges political and economic reform

Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president on 23 September 2024, promising to lead the country through its worst economic crisis in decades. Dissanayake, the head of the National People’s Power alliance, emphasized anti-corruption reforms and vowed to renegotiate the terms of an IMF bailout amid challenges of forming a new government.

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Anura Kumara Dissanayake was inaugurated as Sri Lanka’s new president on 23 September 2024, marking a significant political shift for the island nation.

The leader of the leftist National People’s Power (NPP) coalition promised to implement sweeping changes in a country long dominated by political dynasties and to guide Sri Lanka through its worst economic crisis in over seven decades.

His victory signals a break from traditional politics, with millions of Sri Lankans rallying behind his anti-corruption platform and commitment to economic recovery.

In his inaugural address, Dissanayake, 55, vowed to uphold democracy and create a cleaner political culture. He emphasized the urgent need for reform in the context of Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic difficulties.

“Our politics needs to be cleaner, and the people have called for a different political culture. I am ready to commit to that change,” he declared.

Dissanayake, a former cabinet minister and veteran opposition leader, leads the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist-rooted party that has evolved into a centrist force in recent years.

The JVP is part of the broader NPP coalition, which played a pivotal role in his election. Many see his rise to power as a reflection of the widespread disillusionment with Sri Lanka’s political elite, particularly following the country’s economic collapse in 2022.

Challenges Ahead

Dissanayake’s election comes after Sri Lanka experienced severe economic instability. In 2022, a foreign exchange shortage left the country unable to afford essential imports such as fuel, medicine, and food.

Protests erupted, toppling the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and marking the end of the Rajapaksa family’s longstanding political dominance. His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, failed to gain broad support during his tenure, which culminated in his electoral defeat on Sunday, 22 September 2024.

The new president faces immediate and significant challenges. His top priorities will include managing the terms of a US$2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stabilizing the country’s economic recovery, and forming a new government.

Although Dissanayake secured 43% of the vote—an underwhelming victory margin by historical standards—he will need to work with a parliament in which his party holds only three out of 225 seats.

The new president’s ability to navigate the political landscape and garner support from the legislature will be key to his success.

Further complicating Dissanayake’s position is investor skepticism. Sri Lanka’s sovereign bonds experienced a sharp drop following his election, with concerns that his Marxist-leaning policies might lead to delays in IMF disbursements or attempts to renegotiate the country’s debt agreements with international creditors.

A significant point of contention is whether Dissanayake will seek to alter the terms of the IMF loan, which comes with stringent austerity measures that many view as punishing.

Political History and Popular Appeal

Dissanayake’s political journey has been defined by his association with the JVP, which historically espoused Marxist ideologies and was involved in violent uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s.

Thousands were killed in those insurrections, and for many years the party struggled to distance itself from its militant past. Dissanayake has been credited with transforming the party’s image since taking over its leadership in 2014, adopting a more moderate stance that focuses on anti-corruption and pro-poor policies. His apology for the JVP’s violent history was a turning point in his career.

During the country’s 2022 economic crisis, Dissanayake and the NPP capitalized on the public’s discontent with traditional political elites, which many blamed for corruption and mismanagement. His reputation as a champion of transparency and accountability has resonated with large segments of the electorate, particularly those hardest hit by the economic downturn.

While Dissanayake’s rise to power has been welcomed by many, particularly among poorer communities who see him as a leader who will address their concerns, his presidency is also met with reservations.

Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority, concentrated in the north and east, remains cautious. The JVP has long been viewed as a Sinhala Buddhist party that supported harsh military measures during the country’s civil war.

The Tamil community remains skeptical of Dissanayake’s ability to address their grievances, including ongoing calls for investigations into human rights violations committed during the war.

International Relations and Regional Response

Sri Lanka’s neighbors and international partners have acknowledged Dissanayake’s victory. India, Pakistan, the Maldives, and China were among the first countries to extend their congratulations.

China, Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral creditor, expressed hope for the country’s continued stability and pledged its willingness to support economic and social development. A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry stated that Beijing remains open to working with Sri Lanka on debt agreements and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The international response is critical, as Dissanayake has indicated his desire to revisit some of the debt agreements made with foreign creditors, particularly with the IMF.

His stance on renegotiating the country’s debt will likely define his presidency and could have significant implications for Sri Lanka’s recovery.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s presidency represents a potential turning point for Sri Lanka as it navigates one of the most challenging periods in its history.

His promises of reform, transparency, and accountability have struck a chord with the electorate, but his ability to implement these changes will depend on how he addresses the country’s economic crisis, manages political opposition, and builds trust with international partners.

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Sri Lankan woman finds a human toe in chocolate bought at hospital canteen

Recently, a fragment of human finger emerged in a chocolate piece. Fruit’n’Nut chocolate from Mahiyanganaya Base Hospital’s canteen in Sri Lanka contained the unusual addition, reported by a female staff member. Public Health Inspectors confiscated related chocolates, suspecting local manufacturer involvement. A tweeted video, reposted for 1M views, revealed the incident, evoking shock and morbid humor online. Netizens questioned origin, demanded the brand’s identity, and speculated on ingestion of other body parts. Some mistook it for tamarind or a cockroach, while others jokingly referenced Hannibal Lecter.

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1 year ago

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11 August 2023

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SRI LANKA: Recently, a picture of a segment of a human toe discovered within a piece of chocolate went viral on Twitter.

Based on a news report, the Fruit’n’Nut chocolate was brought from the hospital canteen at Mahiyanganaya Base Hospital, Sri Lanka, by a female staff member.

Upon discovering that the bump in the chocolate was not a nut but a human body part which seemed to be a toe, she promptly notified the local health authorities.

Twitter: AsyrafRosli

Following an examination of the chocolate containing a human finger and an inspection of the hospital canteen, Public Health Inspectors (PHI) proceeded to take possession of additional chocolate items produced by the same company.

The chocolate was also believed to be produced by a local manufacturer.

The disturbing video was originally posted on social media by a user under the name ‘just_a_peek’, which was no longer available online and was later reposted by user ‘AsyrafRosli’ on Twitter.

Twitter: AsyrafRosli

The tweet garnered 1 million views, 2,890 reposts, and 3,251 likes since it was posted last Tuesday (8 Aug).

The tweet said, “This is a reminder to check your food before taking a bite.”

Netizens are in utter shock to see the chocolate discovery

A Twitter user was in utter shock and commented, “It is not just the toenail but the whole tip of the toe included.”

Some netizens are also shocked to see the woman in the picture casually placing the toe in her palm.

Another tweet quoted in disgust, “This is literally a Donoghue v Stevenson case,” a famous court case of a decomposed snail found in a ginger beer.

Some other comments include, “Pretty sure a worker lost their toe, but what about the quality control (QC).

“I need the answers, whose toe is this, why is it there, was the person who took the picture not disgusted by it, did they accidentally take a bite?”

Some others demand the uploader to share the source, and chocolate brand name so they can avoid buying it.

A subsequent retweet quotes the possibility that others might have consumed other sections of the decayed body parts.

While some people can tell right away that it was a human body part, some others could not see it and only realised when they read the comments.

“What is that? It looks like a tamarind.”

“I thought it was a cockroach.”

As is customary, individuals on social media find it necessary to infuse humor into the scenario, lightheartedly commenting, “Just casually lost a toe at work today, hope nobody eats it” and “Finger-lickin’ good.”

A Twitter user also quote retweeted, questioning whether the chocolate was made by Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a fictional serial killer who eats his victims.

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Sri Lankan leader seeks to disarm India’s China fears

Sri Lanka’s president visits India amidst concerns over China’s influence and economic crisis, as India aids the island nation while maintaining its own interests in the region. Debt restructuring and infrastructure projects are key topics in discussions between the two nations.

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1 year ago

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18 July 2023

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COLOMBO, SRI LANKA — Sri Lanka’s president arrives in India on Thursday for his first visit to the regional powerhouse, with concerns mounting in New Delhi over China’s increasing influence in the strategically placed but financially bankrupt island.

New Sri Lankan leaders usually travel to India within a few weeks of taking office, but Ranil Wickremesinghe’s trip comes exactly a year after he became president following the toppling of his predecessor at the height of an unprecedented economic crisis.

As Sri Lanka drifted towards chaos with daily street protests over shortages of food, fuel and medicines, India poured nearly $4 billion in aid to restore supplies and stabilise the island.

The loans and credit lines were granted despite Sri Lanka defaulting on its $46 billion foreign debt and losing access to international financial markets.

“Without India’s help Sri Lanka could have degenerated into anarchy,” said political commentator Victor Ivan.

“The president will not only have to show gratitude, but reassure that we will not do anything to hurt them,” he added.

“At the same time, Sri Lanka can’t drop China because they are also a very important economic partner.”

China is Sri Lanka’s biggest bilateral creditor and a Chinese firm acquired a 99-year lease on the southern port of Hambantota after Colombo was unable to repay a huge loan from Beijing to build it.

A US$1.4 billion land reclamation project next to Colombo port — the biggest-ever foreign investment in Sri Lanka — has raised Indian fears that Beijing could use it as a listening post. Initially, some of it was to have been Chinese sovereign territory.

Sri Lanka lies halfway along the main international shipping route between Europe and East Asia, with Colombo and Hambantota the only deep sea ports between Dubai and Singapore.

New Delhi sees the region as its backyard, and officials have been alarmed by Beijing’s activities.

As part of its Belt and Road Initiative, China has also struck other infrastructure deals with countries around the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives, Bangladesh and Djibouti, where it has a military base.

Spy ship

New Delhi raised concerns when a Chinese research vessel, Yuan Wang 5, sought permission to dock at Hambantota in August.

The port call by what India describes as a spy ship went ahead. Sri Lanka responded by asking China not to carry out any “scientific research” while in Sri Lankan waters.

Local political columnist Kusal Perera called the Yuan Wang 5 spat an “aberration”.

“One such incident will not decide the fate of the entire relationship with India,” he said, adding that Indian businesses were also seeking to expand their presence in the island.

Wickremesinghe sought to address India’s fears during a visit to France last month, dismissing speculation about Chinese military bases in Sri Lanka.

“No, we have no military agreements with China,” he told the France24 TV network. “There won’t be any military agreements. I don’t think China enters into one.

“We are a neutral country, but we also emphasise on the fact that we cannot allow Sri Lanka to be used as a base for any threats against India,” he added.

Wickremesinghe will be the fourth Sri Lankan president to be hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He was elected by parliament to serve the remaining two-and-a-half years in the term of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who stepped down following protests over mismanagement of the economy.

But the Indian establishment has often viewed six-time prime minister Wickremesinghe’s pro-Western United National Party with suspicion.

“Debt restructuring will be on the agenda along with connectivity,” said a senior diplomatic source, adding New Delhi would be keen to speed up infrastructure projects hit by bureaucratic delays.

Debt deals

Sri Lanka requires agreement from all its creditors, including India and China, on debt restructuring.

Colombo has proposed haircuts of up to 30 per cent and a repayment freeze extending to nine years.

The second tranche of some $330 million out of a US$2.9 billion IMF bailout is due in September — subject to Colombo securing a deal with its lenders.

Wickremesinghe said last month that he was “very confident” China would be on board and Colombo would be able to unlock the remainder of the IMF bailout.

In October, he is due to travel to China for the first time as president.

— AFP

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