New Delhi will be watching how Dissanayake and his party’s close ties with China impact the regional power balance

The Marxist lawmaker who won Sri Lanka’s presidency faces a key challenge in how to balance ties with his country’s two most crucial partners, India and China, as he seeks to draw foreign investment and pull the economy out of the doldrums.

Far from simply balancing between the major powers, Dissanayake and the JVP/NPP have made abundantly clear that his government will continue the pro-US line of its predecessor.

New Delhi is said to be backing Sajith Premadasa of the SJB, a party that is not only more pro-India but also committed to implementing the 13th Amendment.

Sri Lanka is the latest country in the region after Bangladesh to highlight the complicated balance between India and China ties in the region.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has said neither will Sri Lanka be part of a geopolitical fight, nor will it be aligned with any country. "We don't want to be sandwiched, especially between China and India.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's victory marks a significant shift in Sri Lanka's political landscape. However, analysts expect him to maintain a delicate balance in relations with both India and China.