Leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake has promised to “heed the best advice” in running Sri Lanka as he was sworn in as the country’s president, following a stunning election win that has renewed concerns over the future of a fragile IMF-backed debt restructuring.
Sri Lanka’s bonds fell on Monday in the wake of the upset win at the weekend by Dissanayake, the country’s first president from outside its traditional ruling elite.
“I will heed the best advice,” said Dissanayake, 55, after taking the oath of office on Monday, in comments aimed at easing investor fears over the fate of a $3bn IMF rescue plan. “There are my capabilities and incapabilities, things that I know and don’t.”