In his inaugural address as the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged to win the trust of those who did not vote for him, emphasizing his commitment to upholding democracy and fostering a positive political culture.

“The cornerstone of democracy in Sri Lanka is the people’s mandate to elect a President. However, democracy does not end with the casting of votes and the election of a president. To truly strengthen democracy in our country, we must enhance our mechanisms and laws,” Dissanayake stated. 

I have said before I am not a magician, I am an ordinary citizen born in this country. There are some skills and knowledge. My main task is to absord skills, absorb knowledge, take the best decisions to guide the country

“My responsibility is to be part of that collective intervention.”

President Dissanayake won 42 percent of the popular vote unlike his predecessors, who got 50 percent, and also did not do well in minority areas.