As Anura Kumara Dissanayake takes over as Sri Lanka’s new President, what will it mean for the neighbourhood? How will Sri Lanka look at India hereafter? On Monday, Sri Lankan political expert Bernard Goonetilleke will join Explained.Live to answer these questions and discuss the unprecedented rise of Dissanayake as Sri Lanka’s new President in a session titled, “What the Election Results Mean for Sri Lanka and the Neighbourhood.” The conversation will unpack the implications of a Marxist president from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) taking office during a period of economic turmoil and regional uncertainty. Dissanayake, 55, secured a significant 42.31% of the votes, signalling a major shift in the country’s political landscape. His election, supported by widespread discontent with the political elite, follows the UNP’s split between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa. Anura, who rose from a modest rural background, has become a symbol of political transformation, promising anti-corruption measures and governance reform. However, his Marxist roots and the JVP’s violent past raise questions about how much the party has truly evolved. Goonetilleke, the former Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary and current chairman of the Pathfinder Foundation, will delve into these complexities. Having played a key role in Sri Lanka’s negotiations with Tamil militants, he will share insights into JVP’s historical anti-India stance, Dissanayake’s potential foreign ties with China and India, and the regional implications. The session will explore if Dissanayake’s administration can balance his party’s Marxist origins with modern governance and address Lanka’s economic recovery. The discussion will be moderated by Arun Janardhanan, Senior Assistant Editor, The Indian Express. Explained.Live is a unique series of explanatory conversations that The Indian Express hosts, featuring leading experts in politics, diplomacy, public health, and economics.
