Sri Lanka is holding its first election following the economic collapse that sparked widespread protests and forced the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (01:30 GMT) on Saturday, with the election seen as a major test for his successor, President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Wickremesinghe, who implemented IMF-supported austerity policies to stabilize the country’s economy, is now facing voters dissatisfied with tax hikes and other cost-cutting measures. Millions of Sri Lankans are still grappling with the impact of these reforms.
At his final rally in Colombo, the 75-year-old Wickremesinghe remained firm in his stance on economic reforms. “We need to continue these measures to end bankruptcy,” he said, urging voters to choose between “the progress of reform” or a return to instability.
The economic turmoil has increased support for opposition leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). Despite the JVP’s violent history, Dissanayake has promised to fight against corruption and reform the country’s political system.
Sajith Premadasa, another key challenger, has also garnered attention. The son of a former president who was assassinated in 1993, Premadasa seeks to build on his family’s legacy and is expected to perform strongly in the election.
“There’s a growing sentiment among voters that the government has failed them,” said Murtaza Jafferjee of the Advocata think tank, adding that many are eager to express their disappointment at the ballot box.
Around 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to vote in this election, where they will rank three presidential candidates by preference. A record 38 candidates are running for the position, with the country’s history of political violence prompting the deployment of thousands of police officers to safeguard polling stations.
Voting is scheduled to end at 4 p.m. (10:30 GMT), with results expected on Sunday after counting begins a few hours after polls close.