Anura Kumara Dissanayake sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president

Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaks to supporters during the final public rally ahead of the election in Colombo (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 10th president on Monday after an election that saw voters reject an old guard accused of leading the country into economic crisis.

Mr Dissanayake, 55, who ran as head of the Marxist-leaning National People’s Power coalition, defeated opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and 36 other candidates in Saturday’s election.