Sri Lanka's new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Marxist-leaning National People's Power (NPP), has emerged victorious in the 2024 presidential elections. This marks a significant shift in the country's political landscape, as Dissanayake's party, which had been marginal for decades, surged to power amid growing public frustration over corruption and the handling of Sri Lanka's economic crisis. His win follows the country’s first-ever recount after no candidate secured an outright majority in the first round of voting [oai_citation:1,Sri Lanka elections goes to first-ever recount despite strong showing from Dissanayake](https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2024/Sep/22/anura-dissanayake-set-to-be-new-sri-lankan-president-after-historic-second-round-counting).