Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), is increasingly recognized as a transformative force in Sri Lankan politics. Moreover a firm fighter against corruption, good governance, and people-centric policymaking, Dissanayake has become a familiar name, particularly among youth and the educated urban population. This article explores his early life, political journey, ideological transformation, and future prospects.
Early Life and Academic Background of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Born on November 24, 1968, in Galewela, Central Province, Anura Kumara Dissanayake grew up in a rural farming family. His humble beginnings gave him firsthand experience of the struggles faced by ordinary Sri Lankans.
He completed his early education in his hometown before entering the University of Kelaniya, where he studied agriculture. His academic background itself rooted him in practical knowledge of one of the country’s most vital economic sectors.
During his university years, Dissanayake became an active participant in student politics. The political environment of the late 1980s shaped his early activism, particularly during the second JVP insurrection, which was a major incident in the history of Sri Lanka.
Entry of Anura Kumara Dissanayake into Politics through the JVP
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), meaning People’s Liberation Front, has been one of the most controversial yet influential political movements in Sri Lanka’s modern history. Founded in 1965 under the leadership of Rohana Wijeweera, the party was born out of frustration with the island’s widening economic inequality, unemployment, and the dominance of traditional political elites.
In its formative years, the JVP embraced a radical Marxist–Leninist ideology, believing that only a socialist revolution could dismantle the entrenched systems of exploitation. This belief manifested in two armed uprisings — the first in 1971, and the second, more devastating one, between 1987 and 1989. While these insurrections left deep scars on the nation, claiming tens of thousands of lives and creating a lingering association between the JVP and political violence.
By the early 1990s, however, the party was at a crossroads. The heavy losses of the insurrection years, both in human lives and public trust, made it clear that survival would require a complete strategic shift. Accordingly, under the leadership of Somawansa Amarasinghe, the JVP decided to abandon armed struggle in favor of parliamentary democracy. After that, it began participating in elections, contesting under its own banner and, at times, in alliances with other political forces.
The Political Condition at the Time of Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Entry
When Anura Kumara Dissanayake joined the JVP in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sri Lanka was navigating through a period of intense political and social upheaval. While the civil war between the government and the LTTE was escalating, the southern parts of the country were still recovering from the trauma of the second JVP insurrection.
Two key features defined the political scene:
The first one was the erosion of public faith in mainstream parties. In fact, the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which had dominated post-independence politics, were increasingly viewed as corrupt, dynastic, and incapable of addressing deep-rooted socio-economic inequalities.
The second one was the growing wave for alternative voices. In fact, trade unions, student movements, and grassroots organizations were seeking leaders who could offer a principled, corruption-free alternative to the status quo.
In an era like this, a young activist like Anura Kumara Dissanayake, shaped by rural hardship, with an academic exposure to agricultural development, and the discipline of student politics, was a perfect match. Therefore, these circumstances paved the way for Anura Kumara Dissanayake to rise in the field of politics.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake Joining JVP During Its Transformation
By the time Anura Kumara Dissanayake formally joined, the JVP was actively working to shed its violent image. The party had begun presenting detailed policy alternatives on education, health, labor rights, and economic restructuring. At the same time, it positioned itself as a disciplined, organized, and intellectually capable opposition, one that could challenge the political elite without relying on ethno-nationalist rhetoric.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake quickly made his mark within the party. Known for his sharp analytical mind, direct communication, and ability to connect across social classes, he was entrusted with organizational responsibilities covering both rural strongholds and emerging urban bases.
Parliamentary Entry of Anura Kumara Dissanayake in 2000
Anura Kumara Dissanayake entered the Sri Lankan Parliament in 2000, representing the Kurunegala District, an agriculturally rich region with a working-class base that reflected the environment in which he was raised. Moreover, Kurunegala voters, familiar with the struggles of farmers and rural workers, resonated with his promises to stand for fair agricultural policies, fair market prices, and investment in rural infrastructure.
His maiden speeches in Parliament were straightforward, data-based, and free of unnecessary drama. Therefore, he gained early recognition for challenging government ministers with well-researched arguments, often catching seasoned politicians off guard. Therefore, political journalists at the time noted that even opponents found his tone refreshingly professional, a sharp departure from the personal attacks that dominated parliamentary culture.
Later, when he represented the Colombo District, Dissanayake broadened his political reach. In particular, he faced a number of different problems – urban housing shortages, environmental degradation, youth unemployment, and challenges in public transportation. Therefore, exposure to both rural and urban areas strengthened his political adaptability and cemented his reputation as a leader who could navigate diverse policy arenas.
Significant Rise of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Dissanayake’s rise was unique in a political context often shaped by family clans. He was not the heir to a political empire and did not rely on wealth or patronage networks. His leadership emerged from years of grassroots activism, policy interventions, and steadfast party loyalty.
He worked tirelessly to mentor young cadres, lead fact-finding missions into governance failures, and build networks with civil society organizations. Moreover, his reputation as a “pure politician” was further strengthened by his modest lifestyle and refusal to engage in opportunistic political alliances for personal gain.
Indeed, by the mid-2000s, Dissanayake had become one of the most visible and respected faces of the JVP – rebranding the party from a revolutionary insurgent force to a disciplined, democratic and reform-minded political alternative. With all these factors, the rise of Anura Kumara was significant in the Sri Lankan political arena.
The JVP Under the Leadership of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Anura Kumara Dissanayake became the leader of the JVP in 2014 following the retirement of Somawansa Amarasinghe. Under his leadership, the party moved towards modernization, while retaining its leftist ideological foundation. He worked to allay public fears about the JVP’s past by promoting transparency, democratic values, and participatory politics.
Key Reforms of Anura Kumara Dissanayake Within the JVP
When Anura Kumara Dissanayake took over the leadership of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) in 2014, the party stood at a crossroads. It had a disciplined organizational structure and a loyal base, but it also carried the heavy baggage of its militant past and a perception problem among urban middle-class voters. Dissanayake’s challenge was to retain the party’s ideological backbone while transforming it into a credible, modern, and broad-based political force capable of competing for national leadership.
So, to achieve this, he implemented a series of internal and external reforms that can be grouped into three main areas as follows.
- Democratic Structuring
- Policy Orientation
- Public Participation
While these reforms were not easy, they represented a strategic evolution of the party’s identity, positioning it to appeal to a wider electorate without losing its core values.
Let us know look into these reforms in detail.
1. Democratic Structuring
One of Dissanayake’s first and most significant contributions was opening up the internal political process of the JVP. Apart from that, the party began operating under a centralized leadership model, where major policy decisions were made by a small, tightly knit core. This structure, while effective in maintaining discipline, often limited the diversity of perspectives feeding into party policy.
Key Actions Taken:
- Expanded decision-making forums: Regional committees were given greater authority to propose and debate policies relevant to their constituencies.
- Leadership development programs: Younger members were groomed through training camps, political education programs, and mentoring from senior leaders.
- Rotation of leadership roles: Positions at local and district levels were rotated to prevent entrenched political cliques and to give multiple members leadership experience.
By doing this, Dissanayake broke a glass ceiling for the new generation of leaders – many of whom were university graduates, social activists, professionals and community organizers. This democratization created a sense of ownership among grassroots members and improved the party’s ability to respond to local issues with agility.
2. Policy Orientation
Under Dissanayake, the JVP shifted from ideology-heavy rhetoric to policy-driven politics. While its Marxist–Leninist roots remained intact, the party began to frame its positions in ways that directly addressed contemporary challenges such as economic inequality, unemployment, environmental degradation, and corruption.
Examples of Policy Shifts:
- Economic Policy: Instead of purely socialist slogans, the JVP began presenting costed proposals for improving public sector efficiency, reforming taxation, and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
- Agricultural Reform: Leveraging Dissanayake’s academic background in agriculture, the party developed detailed plans for increasing farmer productivity, promoting organic cultivation, and reducing dependence on imported agrochemicals.
- Public Sector Governance: The party outlined frameworks for digitizing government services, improving procurement transparency, and decentralizing administrative powers to local authorities.
These changes had a clear strategic aim to position the JVP as a party of solutions, not just criticism. This approach also allowed the JVP to participate credibly in televised debates, media interviews, and policy forums, where it could showcase its readiness to govern.
3. Public Engagement
Dissanayake recognized that even the best policies would fail to resonate without direct, continuous engagement with the people. Accordingly, the JVP under his leadership ramped up its visibility in both rural and urban settings through:
- Grassroots Campaigns: Door-to-door visits, local issue forums, and targeted community programs in underserved areas.
- Urban Outreach: Engagement with professionals, academics, and business leaders to build bridges with the urban middle class that had historically been wary of the JVP.
- Youth Mobilization: Heavy use of social media, campus discussions, and online policy explainers aimed at politically active young people.
He also changed the tone of the party’s public communication. While the JVP was once associated with fiery speeches heavy on ideological terminology, under Dissanayake the messaging became clear, logical, and relatable, focusing on everyday struggles like the cost of living, job opportunities, and healthcare access.
Strategic Impact of the Reforms
The combination of these reforms made the JVP more palatable to a broader audience. For the first time in decades, middle-class professionals began openly expressing support for the party’s proposals. Media coverage shifted from framing the JVP as a protest-driven group to portraying it as a serious policy contender.
Most importantly, these changes laid the groundwork for the creation of the National People’s Power (NPP), a coalition that would take the party’s rebranding to a national scale.
Formation of the National People’s Power (NPP)
By the late 2010s, Anura Kumara Dissanayake had successfully repositioned the JVP as a disciplined, policy-focused party. Yet, he understood a critical truth! That was, even with reforms, the JVP’s brand carried historical baggage that limited its ability to attract a mass, cross-class, cross-ethnic voter base. To truly contest for national power, a broader political platform was needed, one that could bring together multiple progressive forces under a single vision while avoiding the entrenched divisions of party politics. This created the background for the formation of NPP.
The Birth of a Broad Alliance – NPP
In 2019, this vision materialized as the National People’s Power (NPP), or Jathika Jana Balavegaya in Sinhala. The NPP was not simply another electoral alliance; it was conceived as a political movement that could embody the aspirations of Sri Lankans across ideological, ethnic, and class lines.
The coalition united:
- Political parties — with the JVP as the main driving force.
- Trade unions — representing both public and private sector workers.
- Academic and professional associations — bringing in policy expertise and intellectual credibility.
- Environmental groups — ensuring sustainability was part of the core agenda.
- Youth and women’s movements — injecting fresh energy and perspectives into national politics.
The structure was intentionally designed to prevent the dominance of a single party. Decision-making was collective, with working committees dedicated to policy development, campaign strategy, and civic outreach. This allowed the NPP to project itself as a national movement rather than just a rebranded JVP.
The Necessity of a Broad Alliance
The political context leading to the NPP’s formation was one of deep public disillusionment:
- Corruption scandals had rocked both major parties, the SLFP and UNP.
- Economic mismanagement had left the country heavily indebted, with a widening cost-of-living crisis.
- Ethnic polarization continued to undermine national unity, especially in the post-civil war era.
For many Sri Lankans, the choice between the two dominant political camps had become a choice between the “lesser of two evils”. The NPP aimed to break this binary by offering a credible, corruption-free, and forward-looking alternative.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the Face of the NPP
As the most recognized and trusted figure within the movement, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was the natural choice for leadership. His personal brand, untainted by corruption allegations, rooted in working-class authenticity, and sharpened by years of parliamentary performance, made him the coalition’s best chance at building national credibility.
When the NPP nominated him as its presidential candidate in the 2019 election, it sent a clear signal:
- The movement was ready to compete at the highest level.
- It had a leader who could articulate policy in a way that resonated with both rural farmers and urban professionals.
- It was moving beyond protest politics into serious governance proposals.
So, the NPP was a Movement, not just a political party. In fact, from its inception, the NPP emphasized that it was not merely an electoral machine.
Its stated mission included:
- Bottom-up governance — empowering local councils and communities to participate in decision-making.
- Transparency in politics — publishing funding sources, candidate qualifications, and policy drafts for public scrutiny.
- National sovereignty — rejecting exploitative trade agreements and foreign interventions while maintaining an open, cooperative foreign policy.
This framing allowed the NPP to attract individuals and groups who would have been reluctant to directly join the JVP, but who shared its goals for economic justice, environmental sustainability, and clean governance.
The 2019 Presidential Campaign of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Although Anura Kumara Dissanayake did not win the 2019 presidential election, his campaign was seen as a game-changer. With limited resources compared to the major parties, his campaign still managed to make a significant impact.
Highlights of the Campaign
The following can be identified as the highlights of this presidential campaign.
- Policy-Driven Manifesto: His proposals covered education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and corruption control.
- Youth Engagement: Thousands of first-time voters joined the campaign.
- Clean Politics: The campaign was free of mudslinging and focused on issues.
His performance, both in debates and public speeches, earned praise from neutral observers and critics alike.
The campaign also demonstrated a new model of political engagement—one where town halls, policy documents, and digital platforms took precedence over rallies, posters, and celebrity endorsements.
Ideological Pillars of the Politics of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
The following four pillars can be identified as the ideology pillars of Dissanayake’s politics.
- Anti-corruption
- Economic Justice
- Environmental Protection
- Education and Human Capital Development
Let us now explore these pillars in detail.
1. Anti-Corruption
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has repeatedly exposed major scandals involving politicians and businessmen, often at great personal risk. However, in order to promote anti-corruption, he introduced the following steps.
- Advocates for a National Anti-Corruption Commission.
- Proposed mandatory asset declarations for all public officials.
- Called for digitization of procurement and public service systems.
Apart from that, his fearless questioning and investigative presentations have uncovered billions in misappropriated funds.
2. Economic Justice
He supports a mixed economy model where the government plays a strong regulatory and developmental role. His policies aim to reduce income inequality and empower local industries. The measures taken by him with regard to are as follows.
- Promotes local manufacturing and agriculture
- Seeks to end economic dependency on imports
- Advocates progressive taxation
Moreover, Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s economic philosophy emphasizes empowerment rather than dependency, while promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and cooperative models.
3. Environmental Protection
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has integrated environmental issues into his core political platform:
- Calls for a ban on environmentally destructive mega-projects.
- Promotes renewable energy and organic agriculture.
- Urges comprehensive climate change mitigation strategies.
Under his guidance, the NPP has developed detailed green policies, including urban greening initiatives, water conservation projects, and reforestation efforts in vulnerable areas.
4. Education and Human Capital Development
His education policies focus on improving quality and accessibility:
- Increase public education spending to 6% of GDP.
- Reform curricula to include STEM, digital literacy, and civic education.
- Strengthen vocational training and language skills.
Education, in Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s view, is the great equalizer. Thus, he aims to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub by investing in teacher training, research funding, and digital infrastructure for schools.
Popularity Among the Youth of Anura Kumara Dissanayake
A key reason for the rising popularity of Anura Kumara Dissanayake is his connection with the youth. Young people see in him a leader who listens, acts, and inspires.
Why Youth Trust Anura Kumara Dissanayake
The following reasons might have been reasons for the youth to trust Dissanayake.
- Transparent Communication: He openly shares his policies for discussion.
- Digital Presence: His speeches go viral on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.
- Merit-Based Vision: He advocates for equal opportunities and a system based on merit, not nepotism.
His youth engagement efforts include regular university visits, forums on higher education policy, and participatory discussions on job creation. Unlike many traditional politicians, he treats young people not as pawns but as partners in change.
Use of Media and Communication
Unlike traditional politicians, Anura Kumara Dissanayake embraces modern communication methods. He is known for:
- Participating in unscripted interviews.
- Hosting town hall meetings with citizens.
- Engaging directly on social media platforms.
His clear expression, logical reasoning, and calm demeanor during debates have earned him widespread respect. In fact, he often explains complex policies with clarity, which brings him closer to citizens of all walks of life.
Criticisms and Challenges
While many admire Anura Kumara Dissanayake, he is not without critics.
Common Criticisms
Some of the most common criticisms against Dissanayake are as follows.
- Lack of executive experience.
- Radical economic ideas may scare investors.
- The JVP’s violent history still shadows him.
His Responses to the Criticism
He addresses these concerns by emphasizing the evolution of both himself and the party. He emphasizes organizational control over individual control and outlines clear, practical roadmaps for implementation. Moreover, the NPP’s performance in Parliament and local governance models has helped allay fears about administrative inexperience.
Appeal Across Social Groups
Dissanayake has been able to win the hearts of several social groups due to various reasons. In fact, urban professionals appreciate his:
- Advocacy for meritocracy
- Transparent governance
- Focus on clean energy and technology
Rural farmers and workers appreciate his:
- Subsidies and technical support for farmers
- Improved healthcare in remote areas
- Minimum wage reforms
Apart from that, Anura Kumara Dissanayake has consistently called for unity among all ethnic and religious groups. In fact, his popularity is gradually increasing in the North and East as well.
Global Outlook and Foreign Policy
Anura Kumara Dissanayake envisions a non-aligned, sovereign foreign policy that prioritizes national interest and self-reliance.
His core foreign policy positions are as follows.
- Avoiding debt traps from geopolitical powers
- Building South-South cooperation
- Ensuring foreign investment with local empowerment
He has criticized unequal trade agreements and called for a balanced foreign relations strategy that promotes peace, sovereignty, and mutual respect.
Institutional Reform Agenda
He believes that only systemic reforms can bring lasting change. His proposals include:
- Independent commissions for police, elections, and judiciary
- Parliamentary oversight of executive actions
- Participatory budgeting at the local level
The NPP has also proposed reforms to the public service sector to increase accountability, transparency, and performance-based appraisals.
Comparison of Anura Kumara Dissanayake with Other Political Leaders
Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s leadership style and values stand in contrast to many established politicians. It can be compared as follows.
| Feature | Anura Kumara Dissanayake | Traditional Politicians |
| Political Background | Self-made activist | Political dynasty |
| Public Life | Transparent | Shrouded in secrecy |
| Policy Focus | Youth, environment, equity | Patronage and populism |
| Campaign Strategy | Issue-based | Personality cults |
Vision of Anura Kumara Dissanayake for the Next Generation
Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s vision for Sri Lanka’s next generation is anchored in the belief that true national progress must be inclusive, equitable, and sustainable. His political philosophy goes beyond short-term electoral promises, focusing instead on long-term structural reforms that can secure prosperity and stability for decades to come.
Some of his main promises are as follows.
1. Building an Inclusive National Identity
Anura Kumara Dissanayake envisions a Sri Lanka where ethnicity, religion, language, or region are not barriers to opportunity or representation. He rejects divisive politics, calling instead for a shared Sri Lankan identity built on mutual respect and collective responsibility. In his model, every citizen, whether Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, or Malay, should feel a sense of ownership over the nation’s progress.
This approach means revisiting educational curricula to promote intercultural understanding, reforming state institutions to reflect diversity, and creating public narratives that celebrate the country’s multi-ethnic heritage rather than exploit its differences.
2. Promoting Sustainable Economic Development
For Anura Kumara Dissanayake, economic growth cannot come at the expense of environmental integrity or social justice. Thus, he advocates for an economic model that balances industrial advancement, environmental sustainability, and rural empowerment.
Key aspects of his economic vision include:
- Strengthening local industries to reduce dependency on imports.
- Investing in green energy and sustainable agriculture.
- Equitable resource distribution so that rural areas benefit as much as urban centers.
He sees the next generation not merely as job seekers, but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers driving a more self-reliant economy.
3. Ensuring Equal Opportunities for All Sri Lankans
Dissanayake’s policies emphasize dismantling systemic barriers that prevent equal access to education, healthcare, and employment. He envisions:
- Quality education available free of charge from primary to tertiary levels.
- Vocational and technical training tailored to the needs of a changing economy.
- A robust healthcare system that ensures universal access, regardless of income or geography.
For him, equal opportunity is the foundation of both social justice and economic competitiveness.
Dissanayake – A President Rooted in Education, Innovation, and Self-Reliance
At the heart of his vision lies a deep commitment to education as the ultimate equalizer. By fostering critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and creative problem-solving, he believes the next generation can break free from dependency, whether on foreign aid, imported technologies, or outdated political structures.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake also champions self-reliance, not in isolationist terms, but as a form of resilience. His idea is to equip young Sri Lankans with the tools, skills, and confidence to navigate global markets while safeguarding national sovereignty.
Rather than anchoring national pride in ethnicity, religion, or past glories, Dissanayake’s vision ties it to shared progress, the tangible improvements in living standards, social equality, and environmental health that all citizens can experience and celebrate together.
In his words, the next generation’s Sri Lanka should be a country where “every child, regardless of where they are born, has the same chance to dream, achieve, and contribute to the nation’s story.”
Conclusion
Anura Kumara Dissanayake stands today as one of the most compelling figures in Sri Lanka’s contemporary political landscape, not because he follows the well-trodden paths of power, but because he actively challenges them. His leadership style breaks away from the entrenched norms of personality-driven, patronage-based politics.
His unwavering commitment to justice, transparency, and public service has begun to redefine what leadership means in the 21st century for Sri Lanka. He has demonstrated that political discourse can be anchored in policy, facts, and vision rather than fear, division, or empty promises. Through parliamentary debates, public campaigns, and grassroots engagement, he has steadily built an image of a leader who listens before acting, questions before accepting, and plans before promising.
While achieving the presidency of the Democratic Social Republic of Sri Lanka in 2024, his influence is already reshaping the political narrative. The issues he has championed, from anti-corruption reforms to equitable economic policy and environmental stewardship, have forced both allies and opponents to raise their standards and address topics that were once ignored or sidelined.
As Sri Lanka stands at a crossroads, searching for solutions to economic hardship, environmental crises, and deep social divisions, many see in Dissanayake not just a president, but the embodiment of a movement. A movement that aspires to build a Sri Lanka that is just in governance, sustainable in development, and united in its diversity.
If his trajectory continues, Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be able to prove that real political transformation in Sri Lanka is possible, not through sudden revolutions, but through sustained, principled, and people-led change.
