His victory in the historic run-off election reflects the electorate’s desire to break away from the entrenched top-down system of governance that has long plagued the island nation. With the AKD in charge, there is hope that the new regime will prioritise the needs of ordinary people and take decisive action to address Sri Lanka’s deep-seated economic problems.
According to Rajiva Wijesinha, a former Sri Lankan minister, the country is experiencing a “great sense of relief” under AKD’s leadership as he is seen as someone who genuinely cares about the most vulnerable.
Previous Sri Lankan governments have often been criticised for their top-down approach, which neglected the needs of the majority while attempting to fix the country’s economy through ineffective borrowing strategies. In recent years, the country has faced a severe economic crisis, marked by rampant inflation, food shortages and significant debt.
Wijesinha believes that the new government must prioritise solving the country’s debt crisis while at the same time reviving industries and agriculture so that they start generating wealth again. For him, one of the urgent priorities should be the recovery of stolen national assets. “Swift criminal prosecution and confiscation of ill-gotten assets” are, in his view, essential to ensure that some of the stolen wealth returns to the public coffers.
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, a noted author and geopolitical analyst, stressed the crucial importance of India-Sri Lanka ties in view of the country’s current economic crisis. According to Abeyagoonasekera, India was one of the first countries to extend a helping hand to Sri Lanka during its darkest hours, and the stability of the island nation is crucial for India, especially given the strategic challenges posed by China’s growing influence in the region.
Please watch the attached video for the full discussion.
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