Sri Lanka Presidential election 2024: A turning point or a false dawn?
A roadside shoemaker works at his usual spot on Yatinuwara Street, Kandy, Sri Lanka, with pasted presidential election posters of AKD above his head on September 14, 2024, before the elections. COURTESY: SAKUNA M GAMAGE “One of the most pressing challenges facing Dissanayake’s administration is renegotiating Sri Lanka’s debt. The island’s economy remains shackled by billions of dollars in foreign debt, with China, Japan, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) being its largest creditors. The austerity measures imposed by the IMF in exchange for bailout packages have further deepened the economic hardship experienced by ordinary Sri Lankans, leading to widespread resentment. Dissanayake has signaled his intention to renegotiate Sri Lanka’s debt on more favorable terms, seeking to alleviate the burden on the working class while pursuing a path of debt sustainability” Sri Lanka’s 2024 presidential election, which saw Anura Kumara Dissanayake's ascension as president, is a ...
