PM Modi congratulates newly elected Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: ’Special place in India’s….’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the newly elected Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. The left leaning leader and a self-avowed Marxist will be sworn in as president of the island nation on Monday. The People's Liberation Front (JVP) leader registered a landslide victory against Sajith Premadasa on Sunday by attaining nearly 1.3 million more votes than his closest rival.

Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi wrote, “Congratulations @anuradisanayake, on your victory in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections. Sri Lanka holds a special place in India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR.” The post added, "I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region.

The 55-year-old newly elected President, after claiming victory in the polls in the island country, said this victory had been "paved by the sacrifices of so many who gave their sweat, tears and even their lives for this cause". He added, "Together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history," AFP reported.

He will be sworn in at 9:00 am at the colonial-era President Secretariat in Colombo, AFP reported citing a statement by election commission officials.

Outgoing president Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, who took charge at the peak of the financial crisis, imposed steep tax hikes and other austerity measures per the terms of an International Monetary Fund bailout.

The island nation went to the polls on Saturday, September 21, to elect the nation’s 10th president. This marks the first election since the devastating 2022 economic crisis that culminated in a loan default. According to reports, voter turnout stood was 70 per cent an hour before polling stations closed at 4:00 pm. The result announcement was made by the polling authorities of the country after a second vote count, the first in the nation's history.

Anura Kumara Dissanayaka is set to be the country's 9th Executive President. The Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe also ran for president for the third time but was reportedly eliminated after the first round of vote count. His previous two bids for the top post dates back to 1999 and 2005.

(With agency inputs)