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Anura Kumara Dissanayake

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Anura Kumara Dissanayake
අනුර කුමාර දිසානායක
அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க
File:Anura Kumara Dissanayake 2023 (cropped).jpg
Dissanayake in 2023
10th President of Sri Lanka
Assumed office
23 September 2024
Prime MinisterHarini Amarasuriya
Preceded byRanil Wickremesinghe
Cabinet positions
Minister of Agriculture, Land and Livestock
In office
10 April 2004 – 24 June 2005
PresidentChandrika Kumaratunga
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Preceded byS. B. Dissanayake
Succeeded byRatnasiri Wickremanayake
Parliamentary positions
Leader of the National People's Power
Assumed office
14 July 2019
Preceded byPosition established
Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Assumed office
29 September 2014
Preceded bySomawansa Amarasinghe
Member of Parliament
for Colombo district
In office
1 September 2015 – 23 September 2024
Succeeded byLakshman Nipuna Arachchi
Chief Opposition Whip
In office
3 September 2015 – 18 December 2018
Preceded byJohn Seneviratne
Succeeded byMahinda Amaraweera
Member of Parliament
for Kurunegala district
In office
1 April 2004 – 8 April 2010
Member of Parliament
for National List
In office
22 April 2010 – 17 August 2015
In office
18 October 2000 – 7 February 2004
Personal details
Born
Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake

(1968-11-24) 24 November 1968 (age 56)
Galewela, Matale District, Central Province, Dominion of Ceylon
Political partyJanatha Vimukthi Peramuna
Other political
affiliations
National People's Power
SpouseMallika Dissanayake
Children1
Alma materUniversity of Peradeniya (dropped out)
University of Kelaniya
Signature
Websitewww.akd.lk Edit this at Wikidata

Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake[a] (born 24 November 1968), commonly referred to by his initials AKD, is a Sri Lankan politician serving as the tenth president of Sri Lanka since 2024.[1][2] He is the current party leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People's Power.

Dissanayake has been involved with the JVP since his school days and was active in student politics at university before joining the JVP politburo in 1995. He has been a member of parliament since September 2000, having been either appointed from the national list or elected, Dissanayake served as the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation from 2004 to 2005 and Chief Opposition Whip from 2015 to 2018. He was named the leader of JVP at the 17th National Convention of the party, held on 2 February 2014.[3]

Early life, education and student politics

Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake was born on 24 November 1968 in the village of Galewela, Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka.[4] His father was an office worker[5] and his mother was a housewife. He had one sister.[6]

Dissanayake received his education at the Thambuthegama Gamini Maha Vidyalaya and the Thambuthegama Central College, becoming the first student from the college to gain university entrance.[6] Having been involved in the JVP from his school days, Dissanayake joined the JVP in 1987, becoming active in student politics. He engaged in full-time political activities from 1987, with the onset of the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection.[6] He entered the University of Peradeniya and left a few months later due to threats. He transferred to the University of Kelaniya a year later in 1992 and graduated[7] in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree.[citation needed]

Legislative career (2000–2024)

JVP Politburo

In 1995, he became the National Organizer of the Socialist Students Association and was appointed to the Central Working Committee of the JVP. He was appointed to the Politburo of the JVP in 1998.[7] The JVP supported Chandrika Kumaratunga in the 1994 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, having re-entered mainstream politics under Somawansa Amarasinghe. However, the party later became vocal critics of the Kumaratunga administration.[citation needed]

Cabinet minister

He entered parliament in 2000, following the 2000 Sri Lankan parliamentary election from the National list of the JVP and was reappointed following the 2001 Sri Lankan parliamentary election. In 2004, the JVP allied with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), contesting as a part of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in the 2004 parliamentary elections and win 39 seats in the parliament. Dissanayake was elected to parliament from the Kurunegala District from the UPFA and was appointed by President Kumaranatunga as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation in the joint SLFP–JVP government in February 2004.[8] He resigned his ministerial portfolio on 16 June 2005, with the other JVP Ministers, following JVP leader Amerasinghe's decision to quit the United People's Freedom Alliance in opposition to President Kumaranatunga government's controversial joint mechanism with the LTTE for tsunami relief co-ordination in the north and east provinces.[9][10] He served as Chief Opposition Whip from September 2015 to December 2018.[11]

JVP party leader

On 2 February 2014, during the 17th National Convention of the JVP, Dissanayake was named as the new leader of the JVP, succeeding Somawansa Amarasinghe.[12]

2019 presidential election

On 18 August 2019, the National People's Power, a political organization led by the JVP, announced that Dissanayake would be its presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential elections. Dissanayake came in third place with 3% of the vote, receiving 418,553 votes.[13]

2024 presidential election

On 29 August 2023, the NPP announced that Dissanayake would run for president again in 2024.[14] He won the election with a landslide victory largely owning to the dissatisfaction of the previous governments following the ongoing Lankan economic crisis.[15]

Presidency (2024–present)

Dissanayake was inaugurated as president at the presidential secretariat on 23 September 2024. In his maiden speech as president, he promised to fulfill the commitments listed in the mandate although reiterating that it will take time for the country to change. He also alluded to the proposal of parliamentary elections, so that a new government can be formed.[16]

Dissanayake appointed members to his interim cabinet which included Ananda Wijepala, as the private secretary to his president. Nandika Sanath Kumanayaka as the secretary to the president, Ravi Seneviratne as the secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, and Sampath Thuyacontha as the secretary to the Ministry of Defence.[17] On 24 September 2024, he appointed Harini Amarasuriya as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.[18]

Due to the seat of Dissanayake being vacant in parliament, Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi was appointed as the former's replacement as MP for the Colombo district.[19]

Dissanayake visited the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, where he received blessings and later vowed to uncover the truth surrounding the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.[20]

On 24 September, Dissanayake appointed MP Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister, the third woman to hold the position. He also appointed her as concurrent minister for justice, education and labour.[21] Aside from Amarasuriya, Dissanayake also appointed the two other members of the JVP in Parliament to his cabinet.[22] Later that day, he dissolved parliament and called for early legislative elections scheduled on 14 November.[23]

Political positions

Dissanayake has been characterised in media as a Marxist[24] and a neo-Marxist.[25] Dissanayake has pledged to dissolve parliament within 45 days of coming to power and to seek a general mandate for his policies. He ran on an anti-corruption and anti-poverty platform in the 2024 presidential election.[26] Dhananath Fernando, CEO of the Colombo-based pro-market think tank Advocata Institute, said that Dissanayake "now advocates for a pro-trade approach, emphasising the simplification of the tariff structure, improving the business environment, reforming tax administration, ending corruption and positioning the private sector as the engine of growth. However, his stance on debt negotiations remains unclear."[27]

Tax reform

Dissanayake has been highly critical of the Government of Sri Lanka and the IMF, claiming that the IMF only wants to bail out corrupt regimes.[28] He has stated that some of the IMF conditions need to be renegotiated, such as the reducing some taxes such as the pay-as-you-earn tax, as this has outperformed, while reducing expenditure to meet the primary surplus target. He has indicated that his government would increase social welfare grants, while eliminating value-added taxes on essential items such as food, health services, medical equipment, and educational services, reducing the cost of living, increasing the taxes on wealthy while supporting their businesses.[29] Dissanayake has committed to continuing the deal with the IMF.[30]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka
Election Constituency Party Alliance Votes Result
2004 parliamentary Kurunegala District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna UPFA 153,868 Elected
2015 parliamentary Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna 65,966 Elected
2019 presidential Sri Lanka Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna NPP 418,553 Lost
2020 parliamentary Colombo District Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna NPP 49,814 Elected
2022 presidential Sri Lanka Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna NPP 3 (E.V) Lost
2024 presidential Sri Lanka Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna NPP 5,740,179 Won

Notes

  1. ^ Template:Lang-si, pronounced [anurə kuma:rə disa:na:jəkə]; Template:Lang-tam, Tamil pronunciation: [ɐnʊɾɐ kʊmaːɾɐ tɪtɕaːnaːjɐkːɐ].

References

  1. ^ "Anura Kumara to be sworn in as President today". www.adaderana.lk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ Radhakrishnan, R. K. (22 September 2024). "Anura Kumara Dissanayake Wins Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2024". Frontline. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Anura Kumara Dissanayake is new JVP leader". Daily Mirror. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Who is Sri Lanka's new president Anura Kumara Dissanayake?". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (23 September 2024). "Anura Kumara Dissanayake: who is Sri Lanka's new leftist president?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b c David, Anusha. "Anusha David speaks to Anura Kumara Dissanayake". jvpsrilanka.com. JVP. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b "A look back into the life of the NPP Presidential candidate; Anura K." Newsfirst. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Agriculture Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake will launch tomorrow Tank renovation scheme at Yapahuwa". Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  9. ^ "JVP leaves coalition Government". TamilNet. 16 June 2005. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  10. ^ Weerasinghe, Chamikara (17 June 2005). "VP leaves Govt with regret". Daily News, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Parliament of Sri Lanka – Chief Opposition Whips". parliament.lk. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  12. ^ Liyanasuriya, Sathya (6 February 2014). "Can Anura's logical oratory spur people's imagination?". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  13. ^ "NPPM Declares JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake As Its 2019 Presidential Candidate". Colombo Telegraph. 18 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  14. ^ "JVP on the track before race is announced". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Sri Lanka presidential elections: What victory of Marxist Anura Kumara Dissanayake tells about the popular mood". The Indian Express. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as 09th Executive President of Sri Lanka". Newswire. 23 September 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  17. ^ "President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's New Appointments (Updating)". Newswire. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  18. ^ Jamkhandikar, Shilpa (24 Septemeber 2024). "Sri Lanka President Dissanayake picks Harini Amarasuriya as PM". Reuters. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi appointed to Anura's MP seat". Ada Derana. 23 September 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  20. ^ "New President meets Archbishop, vows to uncover the truth behind easter attacks". Newswire. 23 September 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Former academic named Sri Lanka's third female prime minister". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Sri Lanka's new leader appoints cabinet ahead of expected snap polls". France 24. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Sri Lanka's new president calls parliamentary election to consolidate his mandate". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Marxist Dissanayake wins Sri Lanka's presidential election as voters reject old guard". NPR. Associated Press. 22 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  25. ^ Reed, John; Ratnaweera, Mahendra (22 September 2024). "Neo-Marxist Dissanayake upsets odds to win Sri Lanka presidency". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  26. ^ Ganguly, Sudipto; Jayasinghe, Uditha (22 September 2024). "Sri Lanka's president-elect breaks a tradition of political lineage". Reuters.
  27. ^ Pathirana, Saroj (13 September 2024). "Could Marxist Anura Dissanayake become Sri Lanka's next president?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Sri Lanka needs a national liberation movement, not mere regime change: Anura Kumara Dissanayake". THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  29. ^ Ranasinghe, Imesh (25 August 2024). "Presidential Election 2024: A look at economic policies of key candidates". The Morning. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  30. ^ Perera, Ayeshea; Guinto, Joel (22 September 2024). "Anura Kumara Dissanayake: Left-leaning leader wins Sri Lanka election". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture, Land and Livestock
2004–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Opposition Whip
3 September 2015–18 December 2018
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Sri Lanka
2024–present
Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
2014–present
Incumbent
New office Leader of National People's Power
2019–present