Political earthquake in Sri Lanka

Erik Solheim, former diplomat and adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former diplomat and adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election victory and the challenges ahead

Opinion
By Editor_1
Former diplomat and adviser to former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Erik Solheim - UN

The left-wing candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected President of Sri Lanka this weekend. This is the first time since independence that the Sri Lankan people elected a party and a candidate from outside the traditional elite. Dissanayaka or AKD as he is affectionately called comes from a very humble upbringing in the Anuradhapura district. His party or coalition have never in the past been close to power.

The result is a testimony to the pain underprivileged Sri Lankans have felt during the economic crisis. There is widespread sympathy for AKDs fight against corruption and his call for more welfare for the people.

The weakness of the election winner is that his coalition has very little experience running a complicated state like Sri Lanka. They will also struggle to implement their many promises in a most challenging economic environment. They may struggle to achieve a majority in the Parliament.

This election is certain to raise eyebrows in many foreign capitals. Diplomats should think twice. AKD has reached out to India, China and the West during his campaign. We should all reciprocate and help him become a successful leader. A more prosperous, peaceful and greener Sri Lanka is in everyone´s interest. AKD deserves help on that journey.

This election was also the first in a long time where chauvinism and ethnic extremism played no role during the campaign.

Many Western nations can learn from the peacefulness of the election and the grace the main losing candidates Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe showed towards the winner.

Ranil Wickremesinghe will go into history as the man who restored normalcy to Sri Lanka in the midst of the all-time economic meltdown. Hardly any leader in world history has been – on the basis of implementing an IMF program. We will see more of Ranil.

-X (formerly Twitter)

 

 

Editor_1
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