Sirisena win spells change and challenge for Sri Lanka

Significance

Sirisena's victory is a potential game-changer: instead of entrenching the autocratic tendencies of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa's administration, the election results hold out the promise of democratic consolidation under a new government with a robust mandate for constitutional and policy reform. However, the diversity of the coalition backing Sirisena and the sharing of power with newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe augur a period of volatility.

Impacts

• If Tamil parties emerge as 'kingmakers' in April, governance of war-torn Northern and Western provinces is likely to be overhauled.
• Delhi, Washington and Brussels will welcome the political transition.
• Long-term growth prospects will turn on the precise rebalancing of budgetary allocations.