'We seek fresh start': Marxist leader Dissanayake after winning Sri Lanka presidential polls

Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won Sri Lanka's presidential election, defeating incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Following his victory, Dissanayake called for national unity and said, "The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of a new beginning." He further stressed that the "new renaissance we seek will rise from this shared strength and vision," expressing hope for "a fresh start" to realise the country's aspirations.
Sri Lanka's election commission formally announced that Dissanayake, 55, secured 42.31% of the vote in Saturday's election, with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa finishing second and Wickremesinghe, the sitting president, placing a distant third.The commission confirmed the results on its official website, and Dissanayake is set to be sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president on Monday.
Polling was conducted at over 13,400 stations across 22 electoral districts, with around 75% of Sri Lanka’s 17 million eligible voters participating. Dissanayake's victory marks a significant shift for his Marxist party, which had previously struggled for political influence after leading two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that resulted in over 80,000 deaths.
The newly elected president's party, poised to lead the nation, has pledged not to abolish the controversial $2.9 billion IMF bailout agreement but aims to renegotiate its terms, as public discontent over the bailout continues to grow. The election is widely seen as a referendum on this IMF deal.
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Dissanayake in a heartfelt X post said that, "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," Dissanayake added.

Despite a peaceful election, Sri Lanka imposed a night curfew on Saturday as a precaution due to simmering public dissatisfaction.

Meanwhile, outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Dissanayake, stating, "With much love and respect for this beloved nation, I hand over its future to the new President."