Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka

National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been elected as the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka, securing a total of 5,740,179 votes in the presidential election held yesterday (21).

Anura Kumara Dissanayake triumphed over his main rival, Sajith Premadasa, who obtained 4,530,902 votes.

This election, required a second round of vote counting for the first time in the country's history.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of both the National People's Power and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, brings two decades of parliamentary experience. He previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation in the United People's Freedom Alliance government in 2001.

Born on November 24, 1964, in Tambuttegama, Anuradhapura, Dissanayake is a graduate of Kelaniya University.

He will now serve as the President of Sri Lanka for the next five years.

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) after the release of results concluded, Dissanayake said:

“The dream we have nurtured for centuries is finally coming true. This achievement is not the result of any single person’s work, but the collective effort of hundreds of thousands of you. Your commitment has brought us this far, and for that, I am deeply grateful. This victory belongs to all of us.

“Our journey here has been paved by the sacrifices of so many who gave their sweat, tears, and even their lives for this cause. Their sacrifices are not forgotten. We hold the scepter of their hopes and struggles, knowing the responsibility it carries. The millions of eyes filled with hope and expectation push us forward, and together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history.

“This dream can only be realized with a fresh start. The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of this new beginning. The New Renaissance we seek will rise from this shared strength and vision.

“Let us join hands and shape this future together!,” he said.