Dissanayake’s unprecedented mandate in Sri Lanka’s newly elected parliament presents a mix of hope and immense challenges in the quest to rebuild the nation
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s newly elected President, has emerged victorious in the November 14, 2024 parliamentary elections, securing an unprecedented landslide victory that will undoubtedly reshape the nation’s political landscape. Known for his Marxist leanings, Dissanayake and his National People’s Power (NPP) coalition have shocked the political establishment by gaining significant traction in minority-dominated regions-undermining the caste-driven politics that have long dominated the North, East and Central provinces. This triumph, achieved through a focused, strategic campaign, signals a bold rejection of the entrenched political elites and offers a forceful critique of Sri Lanka’s frail democratic institutions. The magnitude of this victory speaks to a populace disillusioned by years of political stagnation and corruption.
After casting his vote, Dissanayake attended the 35th-anniversary commemoration of JVP founder Rohana Wijeweera, paying homage to the movement’s resilience in the face of relentless oppression. Recounting its history of brutal suppression and bans, Dissanayake framed the JVP’s struggle as an enduring fight for democracy, justice, and equality, despite decades of violence and persecution. “The history of our movement is one of unyielding resilience,” he stated, honouring the sacrifices of fallen comrades. His rhetoric was one of defiance, and he emphasised that the JVP’s ability to withstand adversity has kept its ideals intact.
Looking to the future, Dissanayake invoked the symbolism of “donning new garments,” suggesting that the time has come to shed the old and embrace transformative change. The message was clear: Sri Lanka’s political and economic systems are overdue for an overhaul, and his leadership intends to deliver just that. This moment represents more than a simple electoral win; it marks the dawn of a new political order, one rooted in the principles of progressive change and democratic service to the people.
The economic crisis that has ravaged the nation since its 2022 bankruptcy and subsequent default on foreign debt, looms large over this electoral victory. While Dissanayake’s rise reflects a demand for systemic change, it also places him at the epicenter of an economic storm, where recovery will require deep structural reforms. Yet, his victory cannot be divorced from the grim reality: Can a country reeling from financial collapse truly embark on the path to transformative change? The pressure to reform and recover is intense, both from within Sri Lanka and from international actors, and failure to meet these expectations could spell disaster.
Sri Lanka’s long and tumultuous democratic journey provides critical context to this election. Since gaining independence in 1948, the country’s democracy has been a paradox: simultaneously resilient and fragile, moving between progress and decline. Nationalist policies have repeatedly sidelined minority communities, with discriminatory measures like the Sinhala-Only Act of 1956 deepening ethnic divides. Successive governments, often manipulated for political gain, have left a trail of unresolved grievances, and this fractured political landscape has stymied meaningful progress. Despite civil wars, uprisings, and systemic inequality, Sri Lanka’s democracy has endured, offering fleeting moments of hope-only to be followed by setbacks and challenges that have hindered its progress. This backdrop of violence and division underscores the difficulty in achieving a truly inclusive democracy.
In this historical context, Sri Lanka managed to hold another parliamentary election, notable not for its violence but for the absence of it.
The Election Commission confirmed that the election was conducted freely and fairly-a rare glimmer of progress in a nation accustomed to electoral turmoil.The results, released on November 15, 2024, were nothing short of historic. Dissanayake’s NPP secured 159 out of 225 seats, gaining a two-thirds majority, a feat unprecedented under Sri Lanka’s proportional representation system. The NPP’s 61.56 per cent share of the vote shattered records, surpassing the United People’s Freedom Alliance’s (UPFA) 2010 high. In a remarkable surge, the NPP secured 152 constituencies and 21 districts-again, setting new benchmarks. With 6.86 million votes, their victory represents a stunning political realignment, shifting from a meager 3 per cent in the previous election to an electoral force capable of rewriting the country’s political script.
In stark contrast, the main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Sajith Premadasa, secured just 40 seats, a distant second.
While the SJB’s defeat is a blow to the opposition, Premadasa’s ability to hold the opposition leadership could provide an awkward but necessary check on the NPP’s power, particularly given the inexperience of most of its members. Dissanayake’s administration, already facing an inexperienced and fragmented legislative body, will have to navigate internal rifts while ensuring political stability. The introduction of anti-defection laws will likely be one of the first challenges on the horizon.
This election is not just a triumph of the NPP; it is a bellwether for Sri Lanka’s future, revealing widespread disillusionment with traditional political parties, which are increasingly seen as inept and corrupt.
yet, the mandate for change is not without its contradictions. Voter turnout plummeted to just 68.93 per cent, with over 5 million people abstaining from the vote. This decline in electoral participation is a sobering reminder of the disconnect between the electorate and the political system-a symptom of the deep distrust that persists in Sri Lanka’s democratic framework. For the NPP, this poses both an opportunity and a challenge: Can it unite a fractured nation while addressing the systemic inequities that continue to stifle its potential?
Dissanayake’s sweeping victory provides him with the political leverage to pursue bold reforms, including the drafting of a new constitution, a task made possible by his overwhelming mandate. But his agenda is audacious: economic self-reliance, social equity, and fiscal discipline, all while addressing the deep-seated ethnic divides that have long plagued Sri Lanka. The NPP’s ambition is to overhaul the nation’s political and economic systems, but entrenched political factions will not surrender their power easily. Dissanayake’s rise is a rejection of the old order-but whether he can truly dismantle it, or merely become another cog in its machinery, remains to be seen.
(The writer is a journalist and author; Views are personal)
