Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to return land currently held by state agencies to Tamils, a move aimed at garnering support from the Tamil community ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. He also promised to hold elections for provincial councils and local bodies, empowering Tamils to govern their own areas. While he did not explicitly address the demand for greater power devolution and a political settlement to the ethnic question, he emphasized building a country where all citizens feel equal and ensuring there is no reason for another war. Dissanayake acknowledged his party’s past opposition to Tamil rights and addressed concerns about joblessness and drug use among youth, promising to revive industries, create jobs, and combat drug trafficking. He also pledged to support farmers and fishermen, including cracking down on illegal fishing by Indian trawlers. The President’s promises and the impressive turnout at his rally in Jaffna suggest a shift in support among Tamil voters who were previously skeptical of his leadership.