Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn is as Sri Lanka’s ninth executive president at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on Monday, following his landmark victory in the election held two days ago.
Speaking in his inaugural address, Dissanayake said his administration will face many challenges and his main task is to create a new political culture.
Dissanayake thanked outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe for respecting the people’s mandate and facilitating a peaceful transfer of power.
He said, “We have a history of peaceful transfers of power. No leader has ever rejected a post-election transfer of power. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe graciously accepted the people’s mandate and I’m thankful for his commitment and his example in facilitating a peaceful transfer.”
President Dissanayake said he is not a magician, but his objective is to be part of a collective responsibility to elevate the country.
“I’m not a magician. I’m an ordinary citizen born in this country. I have abilities and inabilities. I have things I know and don’t know. My first task to make use of people’s talents and know-how and make better decisions to lead this country,” he said, Sri Lankan media outlets quoted him as saying.
The new President said Sri Lanka needs good relationships with all foreign countries, and that he is committed to building great relationships with all. “I want to be a contributor to that collective responsibility,” he added.
Dissanayake of National People’s Power party won the election obtaining 5.74 million votes, with 105,264 preferences beating opposition Sajith Premadasa who got 4.53 million votes, reports said.
Dissanayake was declared Sri Lanka’s President by the Chairman of the Elections Commission R M A L Rathnayake on Sunday.
