Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a 55-year-old left-leaning politician, has been elected as Sri Lanka’s new president following the country’s first election since its 2022 economic collapse. He defeated opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and outgoing president Ranil Wikremesinghe. Dissanayake, who previously garnered just 3% of votes in 2019, has gained support for his anti-corruption and pro-poor policies. A former Marxist and leader of the Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), he has apologized for the group’s past violence. He now faces the challenge of leading a nation still reeling from economic crisis.