Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist MP, won Sri Lanka’s presidential election, defeating prominent candidates. His victory signifies a shift in politics as he faces challenge of economic recovery. Despite his party’s anti-India stance,

Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka's President on Monday following several years of economic woes.

Sri Lankans have elected Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the country's new president, giving the Marxist-leaning politician a key role in deciding the future of reforms in the debt-ridden nation that is slowly emerging from a crushing financial crisis.