Anura Kumara Dissanayake Secures Victory in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Race

Anura Kumara Dissanayake claimed victory in Sri Lanka's presidential election on Sunday, marking a decisive break from the country's traditional political establishment.

Dissanayake garnered nearly 42% of the popular vote, outpacing his closest competitor, Sajith Premadasa, who received 23%.

Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe finished third with just 16%.

A legislator from Colombo, Dissanayake ran under the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance, led by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a party with Marxist-Leninist roots.

His party’s anti-federalist manifesto emphasises safeguarding the nation's "territorial integrity and sovereignty without compromise".