2024-09-30

Anura Kumara Dissanayake - Wikipedia

Anura Kumara Dissanayake - Wikipedia

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
අනුර කුමාර දිසානායක
அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க
Dissanayake in 2023
10th President of Sri Lanka
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 September 2024
Prime MinisterHarini Amarasuriya
Preceded byRanil Wickremesinghe
Cabinet positions
Parliamentary positions
Personal details
Born
Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake

24 November 1968 (age 55)
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

Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake[a] (born 24 November 1968), commonly referred to by his initials AKD, is a Sri Lankan politician currently serving as the tenth president of Sri Lanka since 23 September 2024. He is the current party leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People's Power (NPP).

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.[1]

Early life, education and student politics

[edit]

Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayake was born on 24 November 1968 in the village of Galewela, Matale District, Central Province, Sri Lanka.[2] His father was an office worker[3] and his mother was a housewife. He had one sister.[4]

The family moved to the Anuradhapura district in the North Central Province and settled in Thambuthegama.[5] 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.[4] He was involved with the JVP from his school days and became active in student politics during his university years. In 1987, he joined the JVP and began engaging in full-time political activities, especially with the onset of the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection.[4] He joined alongside his first cousin Sunil Dissanayake who was called "Sunil Aiya" by Anura. Dissanayake initially enrolled at the University of Peradeniya but left due to safety concerns during the insurrection while his cousin Sunil was arrested, tortured and killed. Anura managed to survive by hiding, and his family who were non-political, were harrassed and their new modest brick house which they just moved from a Wattle and daub cottage, was burnt down as a warning to Anura. After the repression against the JVP ended and the situation became safe[5] he transferred to the University of Kelaniya in 1992, where he completed his studies and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree.[6]

Political career

[edit]

JVP politburo

[edit]

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.[6] 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

[edit]

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.[7] He resigned his ministerial portfolio on 16 June 2005, along with the other JVP ministers, following JVP leader Amerasinghe's decision to withdraw from the UPFA due to their opposition to President Kumaranatunga's controversial joint tsunami relief co-ordination with the LTTE in the North and Eastern provinces.[8][9]

JVP party leader

[edit]

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.[10] Following his election as the leader, he apologised for the killings by the JVP during the second insurrection.[11]

Following the 2015 parliamentary election, he served as Chief Opposition Whip from September 2015 to December 2018.[12]

2019 presidential election

[edit]

On 18 August 2019, the National People's Power, a political alliance 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

[edit]
See also: 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election

On 29 August 2023, the NPP announced that Dissanayake would run for president again in 2024.[14] The first vote count concluded with Dissanayake winning a plurality of the vote with 42.31%, followed by SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa with 32.76%. Since no candidate won a majority, a second round of vote counting was held.[15] Dissanayake was declared the winner after the second count, securing 55.89% of the vote.[16][17] Dissanayake's victory was largely attributed to the dissatisfaction of the previous governments amidst the nation's ongoing economic crisis.[18]

Presidency (2024–present)

[edit]

Dissanayake was inaugurated as president at the presidential secretariat on 23 September 2024. In his inaugural speech as president, he promised to fulfill the commitments listed in the mandate, reiterating that it would take time for the country to change. He also alluded to the proposal of parliamentary elections, so that a new government can be formed.[19]

Dissanayake appointed members to his interim cabinet, which included Ananda Wijepala as the private secretary to his president, Nandika Sanath Kumanayaka as secretary to the president, Ravi Seneviratne as secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, and Sampath Thuyacontha as the secretary to the Ministry of Defence.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22]

On 24 September, Dissanayake appointed MP Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister, the third woman to hold the position.[23] He also appointed her as concurrent minister for justice, education and labour.[24] Aside from Amarasuriya, Dissanayake also appointed Vijitha Herath, another NPP MP in Parliament to his cabinet.[25] Later that day, he dissolved the 16th Parliament of Sri Lanka and called for early legislative elections scheduled on 14 November.[26]

Political positions

[edit]

Dissanayake has been characterised in media as a Marxist[27] and a neo-Marxist.[28] During his 2024 presidential campaign, Dissanayake pledged to dissolve the then-incumbent parliament within 45 days of coming to power and seek a general mandate for his policies. He ran on a platform of anti-corruption and anti-poverty in 2024.[29] 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."[30]

Tax reform

[edit]

Dissanayake was highly critical of the Wickremesinghe government and the International Monetary Fund, claiming that the IMF only wished to bail out corrupt regimes.[31] He stated that some of the IMF conditions need to be renegotiated, such as the reduction of certain 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. His government would reduce the cost of living and increase taxes on the wealthy while supporting their businesses.[32] Since assuming the presidency, Dissanayake has committed to continuing the country's deal with the IMF.[33]

Electoral history

[edit]
Electoral history of Anura Kumara Dissanayaka
ElectionConstituencyPartyAllianceVotesResult
2004 parliamentaryKurunegala DistrictJanatha Vimukthi PeramunaUPFA153,868Elected
2015 parliamentaryColombo District65,966Elected
2019 presidentialSri LankaNPP418,553Lost
2020 parliamentaryColombo District49,814Elected
2022 presidentialSri Lanka3 (E.V)Lost
2024 presidential5,740,179Elected

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Sinhala: අනුර කුමාර දිසානායක, romanized: Anura Kumāra Disānāyaka, pronounced [anurə kuma:rə disa:na:jəkə]; Tamil: அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க, romanized: Anura Kumāra Ticānāyakka, Tamil pronunciation: [ɐnʊɾɐ kʊmaːɾɐ tɪtɕaːnaːjɐkːɐ].

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Anura Kumara Dissanayake is new JVP leader". Daily Mirror. 2 February 2014. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Who is Sri Lanka's new president Anura Kumara Dissanayake?". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Jump up to: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.
  5. ^ Jump up to:a b Jeyaraj, D.B.S. "Anura Kumara Dissanayake; "Leftist" Star Rises Over Sri Lanka". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  6. ^ Jump up to: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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "JVP leaves coalition Government". TamilNet. 16 June 2005. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ^ Weerasinghe, Chamikara (17 June 2005). "VP leaves Govt with regret". Daily News, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "How worried should Sri Lanka be about its ex-Marxist president?". The Economist. 25 September 2024. ISSN 0013-0613. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Parliament of Sri Lanka – Chief Opposition Whips". parliament.lk. Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 19 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 election result: Counting goes to historic second round". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Presidential Election – 2024" (PDF). The Gazette Extraordinary. Department of Government Printing. 22 September 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Anura Kumara Dissanayake: Left-leaning leader wins Sri Lanka election". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "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.
  20. ^ "President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's New Appointments (Updating)". Newswire. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ Jamkhandikar, Shilpa (24 Septemeber 2024). "Sri Lanka President Dissanayake picks Harini Amarasuriya as PM". Reuters. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  24. ^ "Former academic named Sri Lanka's third female prime minister". BBC. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  25. ^ "Sri Lanka's new leader appoints cabinet ahead of expected snap polls". France 24. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ Ganguly, Sudipto; Jayasinghe, Uditha (22 September 2024). "Sri Lanka's president-elect breaks a tradition of political lineage". Reuters.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ "Sri Lanka needs a national liberation movement, not mere regime change: Anura Kumara Dissanayake". EconomyNext. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded byMinister of Agriculture, Land and Livestock
2004–2005		Succeeded by
Preceded byChief Opposition Whip
3 September 2015–18 December 2018		Succeeded by
Preceded byPresident of Sri Lanka
2024–present		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded byLeader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
2014–present		Incumbent
New officeLeader of National People's Power
2019–present
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)