As Sri Lanka approaches its first presidential election since a devastating economic crisis, close to 80 per cent of the population is poised to cast their votes in what is shaping up to be a three-horse race. The election, set for September 21, comes on the heels of severe shortages of essentials and skyrocketing food prices that have left the island reeling.
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Observers say that the policies of the incoming leader will be crucial in steering the South Asian nation’s economic recovery and continuing essential structural reforms under a US$2.9 billion International Monetary Fund programme, following a historic default in 2022. This election is also notable for being the first under new campaign financing laws, which cap each candidate’s spending at around 1.8 billion rupees (US$6 million).
Among the 38 candidates vying for the presidency, the most prominent figures include incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is running independently; Sajith Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya; Anura Kumara Dissanayake from National People’s Power; and Namal Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka People’s Front.
Analysts predict that the race will narrow to just Wickremesinghe, Dissanayake, and Premadasa, though some believe it will be a direct contest between the latter two.
Bhavani Fonseka, a lawyer and senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo-based think tank, views the election as a critical moment for voters seeking a leader who can not only drive economic recovery but also address pressing issues of crime and corruption. Members of the country’s ethnic minority groups are particularly focused on finding a “political solution and reconciliation”, she said.