Marxist political outsider takes oath as new Sri Lanka president as voters reject establishment parties - Dissanayake’s win represents a dramatic elevation in the fortunes of his left-wing JVP party

That conflict, between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan state, erupted in 1983. The Tigers eventually had vast areas under their control in their fight for an independent territory in the island's north and east, but were defeated and all but wiped out in a 2009 military offensive.

In the late 1980s, Anura Kumara Dissanayake joined a Marxist-Leninist party that sought to assassinate Sri Lanka’s leaders and overthrow the government in an armed insurrection. On Sunday, he won the presidency peacefully at the ballot box.

COLOMBO -- Leftist antiestablishment lawmaker Anura Kumara Dissanayake won Saturday's presidential election in Sri Lanka, shocking a political elite that has dominated power in the South Asian nation for nearly eight decades.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake's victory is seen as a rejection of Sri Lanka's old political guard that has been widely accused of pushing the nation toward economic ruin.

Colombo Stock Exchange Chairman Dilshan Wirasekara discusses the Presidential election result as he hopes that the new President will broadly stay in line with the existing IMF program. He speaks with Haslinda Amin on " Asia.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake is sworn in as Sri Lanka's ninth executive president in a simple ceremony.

Sri Lanka’s presidential election has headed into a run-off, with leftist outsider Anura Kumara Dissanayake leading the vote count but failing to pass the 50 per cent threshold needed for an outright victory in the south Asian country’s first election since it fell into default.