On September 23, 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake took oaths as Sri Lanka’s ninth Executive President. Securing a mandate of 5.8 million, many are hopeful that his Presidency will bring about a decisive change in Sri Lanka’s political culture marred by dynasty rule, race-baiting, financial profligacy and wide-scale corruption.
On Wednesday (25), President Dissanayake set up the smallest Cabinet in the world with just three members. The interim administration will be in place till the general election.
I spoke to a number of people to gain a better perspective of what the new Presidency means to them. While some anticipate change, there were others who showed pessimism.
This week, hundreds of vehicles used by former Secretaries of various ministries were abandoned at Galle Face in Colombo soon after the dissolution of Parliament. Ven. Weragoda Vajira Buddhi Thera came all the way from Galle to see the vehicles parked just outside the Presidential Secretariat.
“It’s not that we haven’t seen automobiles, but these were purchased by former Governments with our taxes. We want to see how these so-called Ministers and Secretaries destroyed this country. This is so sad, since we’ve worked very hard to bring these individuals to power. We request the public to witness this travesty and support Comrade Anura Dissanayake’s administration in the coming general election, putting aside petty differences to build a corrupt free nation”.
Pragmatism
Deep Thee is a teacher, activist and author. She is hopeful for President Dissanayake, pointing to his young age and women’s representation in his administration, especially Dr. Harini Amarasuriya’s appointment as Prime Minister. Although he is described as a “Marxist”, she trusts the President and his party to be pragmatic with their stance on the IMF program.
A data engineer from an IT firm in Colombo was doubtful of the new leadership and its influence on university politics.
“I feel like Mr. Dissanayake being elected as the new President of Sri Lanka may give a sense of endless power to student union leaders to influence a lot of decisions in their favour and intimidate those who do not comply with their thinking. This is my biggest concern and the main reason to not vote for him although there are a few positive changes that may happen from a country perspective”.
Harsha Aravinda is a musician. He cited the Sinhala play Subha saha Yasa as a cautionary tale on how a popular leader could become an oppressor.
“The end of the play hints that although Subha kills the tyrant Yasalanka and claims the throne, he too succumbs to despotism. Simon Nawagattegama, the play’s producer said the following as the goals of the play: Not every revolutionary moment ends in a revolution, but no revolution is complete without a revolutionary moment and the question if access to power alone can lead to class emancipation.”
Right direction
Melani Gunathilaka, a climate and political activist, said she is hopeful and believes that Sri Lanka is moving in the right direction given past leaders favouring privileged sections of society. “Since this President comes from a humble background and from a party with leftist roots, we can expect him to be sensitive to the people’s needs”.
The IMF program has put the burden of economic recovery on the poor while nobody was held accountable when the Supreme Court found those who were guilty for triggering the financial crisis, she said. “We have lost trillions in trade misinvoicing and there are many discrepancies about the debt taken. Things like going to the IMF repeatedly, why we went to the international sovereign bond market and why we took high interest loans should be investigated, but we didn’t have anyone with the political will to do that.
“Hopefully, the new leadership has the necessary political will and I’m looking forward to the debt sustainability analysis they promised since the IMF’s one only focused on fiscal targets while little attention was given to social security.
Sri Lanka needs to understand its debt repayment capacity in terms of how it impacts the people, especially society’s most vulnerable”.
However, she said the new leadership will encounter challenges while trying to create a more inclusive and compassionate dialogue around the North-East and plantation issues. She thinks that tackling the problems will have to involve the masses and go beyond the political establishment.
Prathap Ramakrishnan runs a small restaurant in Thimbirgasyaya. He believes that this could be the change that most people have been expecting. “For a country that has been ruled by two renowned political parties since Independence; proper change has come and I hope they can rebuild the country and deliver on what was promised. We are hopeful for the future”.
Shift in consciousness
Nasser Hussain, is a former tour operator and lobbyist for Galle Fort residents and businesses. On the heels of President Dissanayake’s massive success Down South, Hussain recalled how the National People’s Power (NPP) did the ground work in Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Fort.
“On the broader front, I think it’s the people who have changed. All of us have complained that Sri Lanka is beyond saving, but when 42 percent voted for change it clearly shows a shift in consciousness”. The people-friendly things they do will win them enough support, Hussain said while expecting the new Government not to intervene in the tourism industry.
Duminda Perera is a facilities manager. Although he didn’t vote for President Dissanayake, he said he is uncertain but also optimistic about the new leadership. I was hesitant to vote for AKD because he hasn’t been tested yet, Perera said. “I have several doubts if he could do the job, whether he can have good relations with other countries and his grasp of fiscal policy, so he has yet to show his capabilities.
Perera who calls himself a capitalist said he is cynical of the NPP’s parent party – the JVP who still champions communistic ideas. “During their final rallies, people such as Tilvin used battle cries and poems used by Rohana Wijeweera who was a Marxist-Leninist. I’m not fully against socialism, but I don’t think the country needs that right now”. Moreover, he said he hopes the new leader empowers the Bribery Commission and other investigative bodies to stop corruption in the country. “I also love his appointments, especially the Prime Minster. They alone show that he is going to champion meritocracy in Sri Lanka”. As the first week can attest, President Dissanayake’s administration could mark a decisive shift. However, a week is too soon to properly gauge if this shift would be positive or negative given the massive challenges that lie ahead, which is especially dire as Sri Lanka heads to the polls this November. Could the Comrade President win the people’s confidence to secure a Parliament majority to radically alter the course of Sri Lanka?
