Sri Lanka Marks Two Years Since Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Presidential Election Victory

Sri Lanka on Monday (Sept. 21) marks two years since Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the 2024 Presidential Election and began his tenure as the country’s Executive President.

Dissanayake secured 5,634,915 first-preference votes, or 42.31%, in the initial count, ahead of SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa, who received 4,363,035 votes. As no candidate obtained more than 50% of the first-preference votes, second preferences were counted for the first time in Sri Lanka’s presidential election history. Dissanayake ultimately secured 5,740,179 votes.

He was sworn in as President on September 23, 2024, and subsequently appointed Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as Prime Minister. Parliament was dissolved the following day ahead of a fresh parliamentary election.

At the November 14, 2024 Parliamentary Election, the National People’s Power (NPP) secured 6,863,186 votes, or 61.56%, winning 141 district-level seats and 18 National List seats for a total of 159 seats. The SJB won 40 seats, while ITAK secured eight and the New Democratic Front five.

The two-year milestone is being marked by the governing party with a series of island-wide public rallies under the theme “Our Government at Two Years – Prosperous for the Nation.”

The programme is intended to highlight the administration’s legislative programme, economic measures and development plans, while the government continues to face political criticism and ongoing socioeconomic challenges.

The anniversary provides a point to review the administration’s record since the September 2024 presidential election, including its political mandate, parliamentary majority and policy programme.