Sri Lankans Head To Polls To Elect New President Amid Economic Recovery | FULL REPORT

This election marks a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s political landscape as the nation continues its path to economic stability.

By
Rajkaran Bureau
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ranil wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka commenced voting in a significant presidential election, the first since the country faced a devastating economic crisis in 2022. With over 17 million eligible voters, polling will take place across more than 13,400 polling stations, running from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The results are expected by Sunday.

This pivotal election comes after Sri Lanka’s economic collapse in 2022, which resulted in widespread protests that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, now seeks re-election as an Independent candidate. His campaign highlights the rapid recovery of Sri Lanka’s economy, which many consider one of the swiftest recoveries from such a severe economic downturn.

Wickremesinghe faces tough opposition in this three-way battle, notably from Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the National People’s Power (NPP), and Sajith Premadasa, head of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the main opposition leader. Both Dissanayake and Premadasa are critical of Wickremesinghe’s IMF-linked reforms but have pledged to tweak these reforms to offer more economic relief to the struggling public.

Over 200,000 officials and 63,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections.

Key Candidates:

  1. Ranil Wickremesinghe (75) – Current President, running as an Independent. He focuses on maintaining economic reforms tied to the IMF bailout, which has stabilized Sri Lanka’s economy.
  2. Anura Kumara Dissanayake (56) – Representing the National People’s Power (NPP). Dissanayake’s campaign promises to overhaul Sri Lanka’s political culture and has gained traction due to his anti-corruption stance.
  3. Sajith Premadasa (57) – Leader of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Premadasa also seeks economic recovery but aims to provide greater relief to the public within the framework of the IMF reforms.

The economy remains the central issue in the election, with each candidate vowing to continue IMF-backed recovery programs. However, Dissanayake and Premadasa have called for modifications to these policies to better address public grievances.

This election marks a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s political landscape as the nation continues its path to economic stability.