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Left-winger Dissanayake sworn in as new Sri Lankan president
Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake (right) is sworn in as Sri Lanka's tenth president by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya (left) at the Sri Lankan President's Office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, September 23, 2024

LEFTWINGER Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s president after a sensational election victory.

Mr Dissanayake who ran as head of the Marxist National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, defeated opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and 36 other candidates in Saturday’s election.

Mr Dissanayake received 5,740,179 votes, followed by Premadasa with 4,530,902.

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