Tue Sep 24 22:37:54 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka’s New President Calls for Snap Election, Appoints First Academic Prime Minister
**Colombo, Sri Lanka:** Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s newly elected president, has dissolved parliament and called for a snap general election on November 14th, almost a year ahead of schedule. Dissanayake, who secured a landslide victory on Saturday, believes a new mandate is needed to implement his anti-corruption and anti-poverty policies. He previously stated that continuing with the current parliament, where his National People’s Power (NPP) alliance holds only three seats, would be pointless.
This move comes as Dissanayake faces the daunting task of renegotiating a $2.9 billion bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which requires painful austerity measures.
In a significant appointment, Dissanayake has chosen Harini Amarasuriya, an NPP MP and former university lecturer, as the country’s new Prime Minister. This makes her the first academic to hold the position and only the third woman in Sri Lankan history to serve as Prime Minister, following Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Amarasuriya is also responsible for the justice, education, and labor ministries.
Dissanayake’s election marks a dramatic shift away from the old political order, which was widely criticized for its handling of the economic crisis that engulfed Sri Lanka in 2022. The new president has pledged to address the cost of living crisis, which is a major concern for voters.
The snap election is expected to be closely contested, with voters looking for a leader who can bring about meaningful change and stability.
First Piper 