Marxist politician Anura Dissanayake won Sri Lanka’s presidential election over the weekend, dealing a blow to a political old guard that has been widely blamed for the unprecedented economic crisis that hit the South Asian island nation two years ago.

Voters backed Marxist coalition leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, rejecting an old guard accused of leading the country into economic crisis.

Sri Lanka's new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, appointed first-time lawmaker Harini Amarasuriya as prime minister. Dissanayake plans to address economic crises while holding crucial finance and tourism portfolios.