Sri Lanka's leftist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office as president on Monday, promising change in the island nation long led by powerful political families which is emerging from its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades.
Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, won the presidential election for the debt-ridden island nation, local TV said on Sunday, citing Election Commission figures.
Sri Lanka polls: The latest results showed Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party's broader front National People’s Power (NPP) had won 39.52 per cent of the votes counted.
Sri Lankans cast their vote to choose their next president on Saturday in the first election since the country's worst-ever economic crisis in 2022. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, is seeking re-election for a five-year term as an Independent candidate.
Millions of Sri Lankans cast their votes on Saturday (September 21) to select a new president who will face the task of cementing the South Asian country's fragile economic recovery following its worst financial crisis in decades. Watch to know more!
Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, running as an independent, is seeking re-election in a tight contest against Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Sri Lankans hope their new leader will bring an improvement in their fragile economy as millions reel under poverty and debt.
The court rapped Wickremesinghe and the independent election commission for failing to hold local council elections last year. The elections for 340 local councils were postponed from March 9, 2023, as the Treasury claimed it could not fund the polls amid a crippling economic crisis.
Sri Lanka was plunged into an unprecedented economic crisis in 2022 after running out of foreign reserves, leading to large-scale protests and the ouster of ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe brought down inflation and steered the economy to positive growth.
Notably, the Katchatheevu Island became a hot topic during Lok Sabha elections when PM Modi slammed the Congress over the ceding of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974. The 1.9 square km island is located at Palk Strait, 20 km from the Indian shore.
The Katchatheevu Island became a hot topic during Lok Sabha elections when PM Modi slammed the Congress over the ceding of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974. The 1.9 square km island is located at Palk Strait, 20 km from the Indian shore.
Besides, Bangladesh and Sri Lankan PM, leaders of Bhutan, Mauritius, and Nepal are also expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to the Sri Lanka President's office, Jaishankar and Wickremesinghe held extensive discussions aimed at enhancing the relationship between India and Sri Lanka and signed three new bilateral agreements to foster greater cooperation between the two countries.
Notably, the statement from Jaishankar came after Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, claimed that the government would permit a Chinese research vessel to dock at Colombo port in October. According to media reports, Shi Yan 6 ship has entered the Indian Ocean.
The two met at the Dubai International Airport and the Bengal CM invited the Lankan President to the Bengal Global Business Summit 2023 in Kolkata.
The President has already appointed a team led by a retired Major General to report to the National Security Council for formulating contemporary security policies.
The original Dornier-228 aircraft was gifted by New Delhi to Sri Lanka in August 2022 and has proved crucial in several security operations. It is currently undergoing yearly maintenance in India.
The release of the fishermen comes days after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe's official visit to India.
Wickremesinghe also thanked PM Modi and the Indian government for providing support to Sri Lanka as the country witnessed an intense economic and political crisis last year.
Ranil Wickremesinghe's two-day visit to India comes when both countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi noted that Wickremesinghe's visit will further boost the multi-prolonged partnership between India and Sri Lanka.
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