Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP (Sinhala: අනුර කුමාර දිසානායක, Tamil: அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க; born 24 November 1968), also known by his initials AKD, is a Sri Lankan socialist politician. He is a Member of Parliament from the Colombo District, the current party leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (from 2014) and the National People's Power (from 2019). A former presidential candidate in 2019, he has been named as the National People's Power presidential candidate for the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election.
Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake MP | |
|---|---|
| අනුර කුමාර දිසානායක அநுர குமார திசாநாயக்க | |
Anura Kumara Dissanayake | |
| Leader of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna | |
| Assumed office 2 February 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Somawansa Amarasinghe |
| Chief Opposition Whip | |
| In office 3 September 2015 – 18 December 2018 | |
| President | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Prime Minister | Ranil Wickremesinghe |
| Preceded by | W. D. J. Senewiratne |
| Succeeded by | Mahinda Amaraweera |
| Leader of the National People's Power | |
| Assumed office 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of Parliament for Colombo District | |
| Assumed office 1 September 2015 | |
| Member of Parliament for Kurunegala District | |
| In office 1 April 2004 – 8 April 2010 | |
| Member of Parliament for National List | |
| In office 22 April 2010 – 17 August 2015 | |
| In office 18 October 2000 – 7 February 2004 | |
| Minister of Agriculture, Land and Livestock | |
| In office April 2004 – June 2005 | |
| President | Chandrika Kumaratunga |
| Prime Minister | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dissanayaka Mudiyanselage Anura Kumara Dissanayaka 24 November 1968 Dominion of Ceylon |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Political party | Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna |
| Other political affiliations | National People's Power |
| Alma mater | University of Kelaniya |
| Website | www |
Dissanayake has been involved with the JVP since his school days and was active in student politics in university before joining the JVP politburo in 1995. He has been a member of parliament since September 2000, having been either appointed from the national list or elected, Dissanayake served as the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation from 2004 to 2005 and Chief Opposition Whip from 2015 to 2018. He was named the leader of JVP at the 7th National Convention of the party, held on 2 February 2014.