'Together, We Can...': New Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Responds To PM Modi

New Delhi: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who emerged victorious in the Sri Lanka Presidential elections, has asserted to strengthen the ties with India.

In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's congratulatory message on X, the left-leaning leader replied by saying that he shares same commitment with PM Modi of strengthening ties between the two nations.

In a post on X, he wrote, “Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for your kind words and support. I share your commitment to strengthening the ties between our nations. Together, we can work towards enhancing cooperation for the benefit of our peoples and the entire region.” 

The National People’s Power (NPP) leader's message comes after PM Modi congratulated him on X and highlighted the significance of the island nation in  India's Neighbourhood First Policy. In his tweet, PM Modi also advocated for strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations in order to benefit the entire region.

PM Modi had tweeted," Congratulations @anuradisanayake, on your victory in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections. Sri Lanka holds a special place in India's Neighbourhood First Policy and Vision SAGAR. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our multifaceted cooperation for the benefit of our people and the entire region."

Dissanayake's victory can be seen as marking a significant shift in the political landscape of debt-ridden island nation. Dissanayake described the outcome of the elections as a "vote for change.”

In a first, Sri Lanka's presidential election on Sunday went into a second round of counting after no candidate secured over 50 per cent vote needed to be declared the winner. No election in Sri Lanka has ever progressed to the second round of counting, as single candidates have always emerged as clear winners based on first-preference votes. 

Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party's broader front National People’s Power (NPP) topped in the first round of counting by securing 5.63 million votes or 42.31 per cent, followed by Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) with 4.36 million votes or 32.8 per cent of the total polled.

Who is Anura Kumara Dissanayake?

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the newly elected president of Sri Lanka, is a prominent figure in the island nation’s political landscape, known for his left-leaning ideology and commitment to social justice. As the leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Dissanayake has positioned himself as a voice for change, appealing to voters disillusioned by traditional political structures.