Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, born on November 24, 1968, in Kegalle, Sri Lanka, is the current President of Sri Lanka, elected in September 2024. He is the leader of the National People's Power (NPP) alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Dissanayake won the presidential election on an anti-corruption and economic reform platform, becoming the first left-leaning president in Sri Lanka's modern history. Before becoming president, he served as Leader of the Opposition from 2015 to 2018 and has been a member of parliament since 2000. He studied at the University of Peradeniya and became politically active during the 1987-89 insurrection. His election marked a significant shift in Sri Lankan politics, as voters rejected both major political dynasties in favor of his reformist agenda. He has focused on tackling corruption, renegotiating the IMF program, and addressing the economic crisis.