Anura Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lankan president, vows to strengthen democracy

Dissanayake, 56, was sworn in by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Presidential Secretariat.

Chennai: Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn-in as the ninth Executive Presidency of Sri Lanka on Monday. He vowed to “strengthen” and “safeguard” democracy, even as he asserted to work with the global community to bring benefits to his country, despite the “divisions of power.”

55-year-old Dissanayake, the leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna which had led two insurgencies against the Sri Lankan state in 1970 and 1987, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Jayantha Jayasuriya at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

Monday also saw AKD’s victory being recognised and acknowledged by countries like India, Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour, China, US, and several others.

The day also saw Dinesh Gunawardena putting in his papers as the Prime Minister, paving the way for AKD to constitute his own Cabinet of 15 ministers, even as speculation made the rounds that the Parliament could be dissolved in the next couple of days.

“I promise to fulfill your responsibility to usher in a new era of Renaissance for this country, and I look forward to your collective contribution to that,” he wrote on his X page.

In his inaugural address to Sri Lankans after his swearing-in, AKD, who caught the imagination of youngsters and old alike after his key role in the Araghalya protests against the country’s political class in 2022, pitched for strengthening democratic structures by way of strong legislations.

“...I assure the public that I am ready to showcase my maximum commitment for the protection of the democracy in the country during my term as the president,” he was quoted as saying by news website,Adaderana. The incoming President also congratulated his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe, the six time Prime Minister who took up the top post at a challenging time following the economic crisis in 2022, for a smooth transition of power.

Contending that Sri Lanka continues to face “challenging times”, AKD reminded people that he was “not a magician, but a normal citizen” while appealing to the masses to collectively contribute to nation building. He also reached out to the global community, saying “we must not be left alone from the world, but a country that should move forward combined with the other countries of the world.”

In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory tweet, Anura said he shares the Indian leader’s commitment to strengthening the ties between the two countries. “Together, we can work towards enhancing cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the entire region,” AKD said.

India was also the first country to reach out to AKD by deputing its High Commissioner Santosh Jha on Sunday night to meet the President-elect and personally congratulate him.

Anura’s ascent to Sri Lankan Presidency is meteoric as he secured a mere 3.2 per cent votes in the 2019 Presidential polls that saw Gotabhaya Rajapaksa winning a landslide on national security plank following the deadly Easter blasts.