By Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) began his presidential campaign from scratch. He entered the race early, and his opponents ridiculed him, saying he would receive only 3% of the votes and that his aspirations for the top post were merely a daydream. However, his campaign gained momentum like wildfire, and the JVP, with its dedicated cadre, quickly mobilized.
The National People’s Party (NPP) was able to attract academics, as well as middle- and upper-class citizens frustrated with the Rajapaksa regime and discontented with how Ranil Wickremesinghe was managing the country.
No More Night Watchman
Within a very short time, AKD was able to convince many that the NPP was no longer just a night watchman or a watchdog, but a decisive social force capable of forming a government. AKD quickly realized that average voters were not merely interested in dogmatic ideology; they wanted to see pragmatic change. While he did not completely denounce socialism, he gradually moved towards social democracy, which was more acceptable to the new segment of voters willing to support a political party that had not previously been in power. He received a positive response from voters suffering from the pain of an economic crisis riddled with corruption. AKD’s charismatic oratory, regularly backed by facts and figures, offered a glimmer of hope to those looking for a system change or even a paradigm shift where the majority would have a stake in governance.
Reaching out to Women
The party, which initially had only three parliamentarians, soon became a social force that cannot be ignored by anyone seriously following Sri Lankan politics. The NPP strategically reached out to women who had been side-lined in traditional politics. There is no dispute that AKD and the NPP’s political campaign have made an impact, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election. It is clear that the NPP will be a decisive force in the next parliament, which is likely to be hung without any single party holding a majority.
AKD comes from humble beginnings. His father was a labourer who assisted with surveying in the Thambuthegama area. Recently, AKD visited his old school, Thambuthegama Gamini Maha Vidyalaya, and recalled how he used to sell toffees and cigarettes on the train, hiding his goods under the seat when he saw his teachers. In a moving moment, he recounted how one of his teachers sheltered him for a month to protect him from the security forces and paramilitary groups that were arbitrarily abducting young people during the troubled times of 1987-1989.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Science from the University of Kelaniya in 1995. AKD was elected to Parliament from the Kurunegala District and was appointed by President Kumaratunga as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation in the joint SLFP–JVP government in February 2004. He resigned from his ministerial portfolio, along with other JVP ministers, following the JVP leader’s decision to quit the United People’s Freedom Alliance in opposition to the government’s controversial joint mechanism with the LTTE for tsunami relief coordination in the north and east provinces.
A New Leadership
Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed leadership of the JVP in 2014, succeeding Somawansa Amarasinghe, and since then, he has reached out to new segments and social classes with a more liberal outlook. Recently, he has drawn the attention of the global community on two fronts. First, diplomats from many influential Western countries and the USA have visited AKD and his team at their headquarters. Additionally, China and India have invited AKD to visit their countries. He has engaged in frank discussions with diplomats about the current crisis and his vision for the future. The JVP and AKD are no longer isolated from the broader international political scene. The party has evolved from a conventional leftist movement that primarily engaged with certain blocs of countries.
AKD quickly understood the importance of the Sri Lankan diaspora, which significantly influences Sri Lankan politics. He has received enthusiastic welcomes from the Sri Lankan diaspora in the USA, Sweden, Japan, Canada, and many other countries.
During these visits, he explained the party’s policies on economic democracy, adding value to exports, reaching across ethnic boundaries, and formulating a data-driven economy. AKD has also proven to be a good listener and has responded to public suggestions with a clear vision and logical explanations. There is no doubt that these trips have financially benefited the NPP, helping to strengthen its financial base.
Handling the Ethnic Divide
However, the Tamil community has not yet fully embraced the JVP as a party sensitive to their issues. AKD has made efforts to reach out to the Tamil and Muslim communities on an emotional level, and he has been warmly received at their gatherings. He has pledged to create a Sri Lanka where everyone is treated equally and where the racial discrimination of the past is eliminated. While he has made progress in addressing the ethnic divide, more needs to be done if AKD is to win the hearts and minds of minorities and convert this support into votes.
Policy and Plan
Many have questioned AKD about his future economic policy. While it would be an exaggeration to say that AKD or the NPP have a fully developed, comprehensive plan for managing the country’s economy within a radically changed system, it would also be extreme to label the NPP as a party without a plan. AKD and the NPP should be credited for gathering a large number of professionals who are developing a scientific blueprint for the future. Developing a plan that covers a wide spectrum of issues and grounding it in reality is a long process, and AKD and his team are in the early stages of this emerging process.
AKD has shown himself to be a good listener and has been responsive to public suggestions. During his campaign, he and his team have provided comprehensive outlines and specific plans of action, demonstrating their capability to deliver. Undoubtedly, AKD is a refreshing and emerging force in Sri Lankan politics, and it remains to be seen how these perceptions will translate into votes in the coming weeks.
Lankamithra
