Sri Lanka needs a national liberation movement, not mere regime change: Anura Kumara Dissanayake Premium

Sri Lanka's political scene is heating up as citizens prepare to vote in two national elections in 2021. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the National People's Power alliance, is the people's preferred choice for President. In an interview, Dissanayake laid out his plans to rebuild the country's economy and restore citizens' trust. He seeks to bring about a new era of economic and social justice.

As Sri Lanka tries to rebuild its battered economy after last year’s devastating crisis, the country’s political scene is gradually heating up, in the run up to two national elections scheduled next year — parliamentary and presidential — that will give citizens their first chance to vote, after they dislodged the Rajapaksas from power in 2022. The National People’s Power [NPP] alliance, led by the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People’s Liberation Front) is drawing attention, with its leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake topping opinion polls as the people’s preferred choice for President. In a wide-ranging interview, the 55-year-old parliamentarian from Colombo spoke to The Hindu at the JVP’s headquarters and laid out what he has to offer.

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