Sri Lanka has entered a new era with the swearing-in of its ninth president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, popularly known as AKD. As the leader of the JVP, a Marxist political party with deep roots in the country’s revolutionary past, AKD’s rise to power signifies a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s political landscape.

His victory in the historic second round of voting reflects the electorate’s desire for a break from the entrenched top-down governance that has long plagued the island nation. With AKD at the helm, there is hope that the new regime will prioritise the needs of the common people and take decisive action to address Sri Lanka’s profound economic struggles.

According to Rajiva Wijesinha, a former minister of Sri Lanka, the country is experiencing a “great sense of relief” with AKD’s leadership, as he is seen as someone who truly cares for the most vulnerable.

Sri Lanka’s previous governments have often been criticised for their top-down approach, neglecting the needs of the majority while attempting to fix the country’s economy through ineffective borrowing strategies. In recent years, the nation has faced a severe economic crisis, marked by skyrocketing inflation, food shortages, and significant debt.

Wijesinha believes that the new government must prioritise addressing the country’s debt crisis while simultaneously reviving industries and agriculture to start generating wealth again. For him, one of the urgent priorities should be the recovery of stolen national assets. “Swift prosecutions and the confiscation of improperly obtained property” are, in his view, essential to ensuring a portion of the stolen wealth returns to the public coffers.

Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, a noted author and geopolitical analyst, emphasised the critical importance of India-Sri Lanka ties in light of Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis. According to Abeyagoonasekera, India was one of the first countries to extend a helping hand to Sri Lanka during its darkest hours, and the stability of the island nation is crucial to India, especially given the strategic challenges posed by China’s growing influence in the region.

Watch accompany video for entire discussion.