Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the current President of Sri Lanka. He is in the news due to a confluence of crises facing the nation. Sri Lanka is grappling with severe fuel shortages, leading to the implementation of a four-day work week and public holidays to conserve resources. Simultaneously, the country is dealing with the aftermath of a US strike on an Iranian warship, having offloaded crew members from two Iranian vessels seeking assistance. Dissanayake has addressed the public regarding Sri Lanka's decision to aid the Iranian ships. Furthermore, the nation is facing economic hardship, exacerbated by Cyclone Ditwah, which devastated tea plantations, a key export revenue source. Top economists have called for a suspension of Sri Lanka's debt repayments to aid in recovery. Dissanayake has described the cyclone's impact as the "largest and most challenging natural disaster" the country has faced. His government has also abolished parliamentary pensions in an effort to reduce perks for politicians.