Socialist becomes Sri Lankan president

Sri Lankan president-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday thanked U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung for her congratulations on his electoral victory. He hoped he and his new government would be able to work with the United States in a mutually beneficial way, he added. Chung expressed similar sentiments, saying Sri Lanka and the United States have historically shared a strong partnership.

Who is Dissanayake? Dissanayake is the leader of the National People’s Power, or NPP, coalition. The alliance is composed of more than 20 political groups which coalesced in 2019, according to the organization’s website. The alliance seeks to eliminate corruption and ensure greater wealth distribution within Sri Lanka.

What policies does Dissanayake favor? Dissanayake’s government hopes to build Sri Lanka into a production-based economy, according to a policy guidebook published by the party. The NPP-led government will also seek to push more funding and resources into healthcare and education. Education is the government’s responsibility, according to the party. As such, the NPP aims to reduce the role that parents play in their children’s education, the party’s policy book said.

The NPP hopes to eliminate the systemic corruption that has plagued Sri Lanka’s government institutions for almost 80 years, the party said. That includes eliminating a system of kickbacks, bribes, and commissions on everything from building permits to childrens’ school enrollments. The party also promised to provide transparency about the alleged murders of journalists, athletes, and other public figures.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Oduah’s report in World Tour about the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom asking for authorities to pay special attention to human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.