Excitement fills the air as polling stations open in Sri Lanka for the first presidential election since the 2022 economic crisis. With over 17 million people expected to cast their votes, the anticipation for the results by Sunday is high. The central issue of the campaign has been economic recovery, following the government’s restructuring of over $17 billion of debt after defaulting in 2022 due to a severe foreign exchange shortage.
Who are the main candidates competing?
Among the 38 candidates, the spotlight is on three with high chances of success. Incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe, from the United National Party (UNP), seeks re-election after stabilizing the economy with IMF austerity measures. Sajith Premadasa, leader of the opposition party promises relief for the poor, having finished second in the 2019 election. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist candidate, offers an alternative to the traditional system, appealing to young voters with promises to reform the country’s political landscape.
As Sri Lankans exercise their democratic right, the future of the country hangs in the balance, with hope for a brighter tomorrow.