In an election held on Saturday, Sri Lankans chose a president who would be tasked with supporting the nation’s precarious economic recovery from the worst financial crisis in decades.
The main opposition candidate, Sajith Premadasa, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and his Marxist-leaning opponent, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, are expected to compete closely in this election. Dissanayake prevailed by a slim margin in a recent survey.
After voting ended at 4 p.m. (1030 GMT), the results were counted, and the Election Commission is anticipated to release them on Sunday. Saman Sri Ratnayake, a top commission official, informed Reuters that the postal votes would be counted first.
Voters in the nation can select three candidates to support with their preference votes. In the event that no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the first count, a second round of counting determines the winner between the two top candidates, using the preferential votes. Analysts say this will likely be the case given the close nature of the election.
The South Asian island nation held calm voting on Saturday, and local TV outlets reported that lines outside polling places became longer as the day went on. According to the electoral board, more than 13,000 polling places were put up, and 250,000 public servants were dispatched to oversee the election.
Out of the 22 million people living in Sri Lanka, over 17 million were eligible to vote in the election, which was run by about 38 candidates.
Early in the morning, there was lively polling at Visakha Vidyalaya, a school approximately 15 km (9 miles) from Colombo. Families, some of whom were polling with their elderly parents, lined up next to coir ropes that created orderly lines for voters.
“I believe that many people share my belief that we urgently need a change. For us to have a future, the entire country must have a future, first,” said Niroshan Perera, 36, a supporter of Dissanayake.
Sri Lanka’s first election since the 2022 economic crisis was held due to a foreign exchange shortage, causing the country to struggle to pay for essential goods. The country’s economy has seen a slight recovery, but the high cost of living remains a significant concern. Despite inflation cooling to 0.5% and the economy forecasting growth in 2024, millions remain in poverty and debt.
The winner must ensure the country stays with the International Monetary Fund program until 2027 to ensure stable growth, reassure markets, attract investors, and help a quarter of the population escape poverty. The election is expected to change Sri Lanka’s history and shape its future.
(Reuters)
