Sri Lankan elections and what’s on stake

By Dr Ashraf Chohan
Ex MPA
Chief Editor Daily Rapid

Sri Lanka’s presidential election today is a critical moment for the country, marking the first vote since its 2022 economic collapse. The election will decide how Sri Lanka moves forward after facing mass protests, severe economic mismanagement, and a significant IMF bailout program. The key issues on the table include economic recovery, addressing public discontent over austerity measures, and tackling corruption. Nearly 17 million voters will choose from 38 candidates, including incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leaders Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The economy is the top concern for voters. Wickremesinghe has overseen some improvements, such as reducing inflation and securing an IMF bailout. However, many people feel the benefits haven’t trickled down to ordinary citizens, and the austerity measures, including tax hikes, have been unpopular. His rivals are promising changes to these policies, with Dissanayake gaining traction, particularly among younger voters, by advocating for anti-corruption reforms. Premadasa is also a strong contender, offering a more moderate stance and focusing on easing the financial burdens on the poor.

This election is a pivotal test for Sri Lanka’s leadership, as the new president will need to stabilize the fragile economy, address public dissatisfaction, and manage the lingering fallout from the Rajapaksa era, which many associate with corruption and mismanagement. The results are expected to come out soon after the vote, with a likely second round of counting if no candidate secures over 50% of the vote initially.

Here is brief introduction of main contenders;

Ranil Wickremesinghe
(born 24 March 1949) is a Sri Lankan politician serving as the ninth and current President of Sri Lanka. He also holds several ministerial roles, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, Minister of Technology and Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment. Wickremesinghe has led the United National Party (UNP) since 1994 and has been Prime Minister of Sri Lankaon six occasions.

Sajith Premadasa
(born 12 January 1967) is a Sri Lankan politician. He is the current Leader of the Opposition of Sri Lanka and Member of Parliament for Colombo District. He is the current leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP
(born 24 November 1968), is a Sri Lankan politician. He is a Member of Parliamentfrom the Colombo District, the current party leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (from 2014) and the National People’s Power(from 2019). A former presidential candidate in 2019, he has been named as the National People’s Power presidential candidate for the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election, campaigning on an anti-corruption platform.