Sri Lanka’s presidential election is held today. Voting begins at 7 am and continues until 5 pm. The election results are likely to be announced on September 22. This is the first major election process in Sri Lanka after the 2022 economic crisis. About 10 million voters are eligible to vote at more than 13,400 polling stations. More than 200,000 police officers have been deployed to conduct fair and safe elections.
Security arrangements are being taken care of by 63,000 policemen. Let me tell you that there are 38 candidates trying their luck in the Sri Lankan presidential election. The outgoing president Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, is running for re-election as an independent candidate for a five-year term and his efforts to lead the country out of the economic crisis have been successful. Many economic experts believe that under Wickremesinghe’s leadership, Sri Lanka’s economy has achieved a very rapid recovery.
These three leaders are the main contenders for the presidency
In a triangular election contest, Ranil Wickremesinghe faces challenges from 56-year-old Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Power Party (NPP) and 57-year-old Sajith Premadasa of the main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). It is worth noting that the Sri Lankan economy had completely collapsed in 2022. Inflation was so severe that people revolted against the then government. As a result, the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa first reached Singapore and then Thailand and returned to his country after just 50 days. He was provided with all the facilities enjoyed by the former president. In addition, their security was fully arranged. After the fall of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government, opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed president for the remaining two years of his term. The Sri Lanka Poduperamuna Party (SLPP), led by the Rajapaksa family, has a two-thirds majority in the Sri Lankan Parliament. The People’s Party provided support to Wickremesinghe. With its support, Wickremesinghe served as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka six times. He is the only member of the United National Party.
Economy back on track under Wickremesinghe
However, while providing a bailout package to Sri Lanka, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) imposed strict conditions on the country’s economic reforms. In this situation, Ranil Wickremesinghe had to work hard to get the country’s economy back on track. His economic recovery plan was not very popular among the people, but it helped Sri Lanka to get out of negative growth. Sri Lanka’s economic crisis proved to be an opportunity for NPP leader Anurad Kumara Dissanayake.
Dissanayake’s campaign promises to change Sri Lanka’s “corrupt political culture” have won him strong support from the public. The issue of the minority Tamils was not on the agenda of any of the three main contenders in this election. Instead, the country’s deteriorating economy and its reforms have become the main election issue for all three candidates. All have reiterated their commitment to uphold reforms following an IMF bailout.
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s son is also involved
Mahinda Rajapaksa is Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s elder brother. Both of them are not participating in this presidential election. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s son Namal is the presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Podu Peramuna Party (SLPP). In the election surveys so far, Namal is not seen as a strong candidate for the country’s highest office. Two years ago, the people of Sri Lanka revolted against the Rajapaksa family. He wanted to get rid of the Rajapaksa family’s monopoly on Sri Lankan politics. Therefore, perhaps Namal may not get the support of the people in this election.
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