Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, was sworn in as the country's president on Monday following an election in which voters rejected the political establishment widely blamed for the nation's economic collapse. Dissanayake, 55, triumphed over opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and 36 other contenders in Saturday’s election, securing 5,740,179 votes, while Premadasa garnered 4,530,902.

In his inaugural speech, Dissanayake acknowledged the immense challenges ahead, stating, “We are fully aware that we are inheriting a nation in crisis. We do not believe that a government, single party, or individual can solve this deep crisis alone.” Prior to his swearing-in, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned, making way for Dissanayake to appoint a new prime minister and cabinet as the nation seeks to recover from its worst economic crisis and political turmoil.

Dissanayake becomes Sri Lanka’s ninth executive president, an office that gained significant power with the constitutional changes in 1978. He leads the NPP, which is dominated by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a Marxist party that previously led two failed armed insurrections in the 1970s and 1980s aimed at a socialist revolution. After these defeats, the JVP transitioned to democratic politics in 1994 and has since been largely in opposition, though it has intermittently supported presidents and joined governments briefly.

The NPP also brings together a diverse array of groups, including academics, civil society organizations, artists, lawyers, and students. Dissanayake first entered Parliament in 2000 and briefly served as Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation under President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He ran for the presidency in 2019, losing to Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

One of Dissanayake’s primary challenges will be addressing his campaign promise to alleviate the harsh austerity measures enacted by his predecessor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, as part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to secure nearly $3 billion in relief. Wickremesinghe warned that any deviation from this agreement could delay further aid disbursements.

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis stemmed from excessive borrowing for projects that failed to generate returns, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and a decision to use dwindling foreign reserves to support the rupee. This led to severe shortages of basic necessities like food, medicine, fuel, and cooking gas in 2022, sparking widespread protests that culminated in the resignation and exile of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe, who was prime minister at the time, was elected by Parliament to complete the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term.