Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s strong showing reveals voter weariness with leadership that has led to a national economic crisis and crushing hardship for many people.

Two years ago, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans rose up against their president and forced him to flee the country.

Dissanayake’s victory, rooted in his image as an agent of change, now faces the reality of governing a nation facing deep-seated ethnic divisions, as his past opposition to Tamil reconciliation efforts and the JVP’s exclusionary politics raise concerns about his ability to unite the country.