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Sri Lankans Vote in Crucial Presidential Election Amidst Economic Recovery Efforts
COLOMBO (Reuters) – On Saturday, millions of Sri Lankans participated in a pivotal presidential election aimed at steering the nation towards recovery from a significant economic crisis that has plagued it for several years.
With over 17 million eligible voters out of the country’s 22 million population, the election is featuring a competitive landscape. The incumbent, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, is challenged by the main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a candidate representing a Marxist viewpoint, who has shown strong support in recent polls.
The voting commenced at 7 a.m. (0130 GMT) with polling stations effectively organized and staffed by public officials and police, assisting voters throughout the process. In Colombo, the nation’s largest city, citizens formed orderly lines at polling locations.
At Visakha Vidyalaya school, approximately 15 kilometers from the capital, voting was brisk early in the day, with families, including those helping elderly relatives, queuing along coir rope barriers that marked off the voting lines.
A prominent display of the ballot paper welcomed voters at the entrance to the polling booth, set among vibrant flower beds adjacent to a series of classrooms.
“There is a strong sentiment for change among the people. To secure a future for ourselves, we need to ensure that the entire country has a promising path ahead,” expressed Niroshan Perera, 36, who supports Dissanayake.
As voting continued smoothly across the island, reports from local television indicated lengthening lines as the day progressed. Voting is set to conclude at 4 p.m. (1030 GMT), with counting anticipated to begin shortly after. The Election Commission aims to declare the results by Sunday.
In total, over 13,000 polling stations have been established, with 250,000 public officials assigned to oversee the electoral process, according to R.M.L. Rathnayake, the chair of Sri Lanka’s election commission.
This election marks the first since Sri Lanka suffered a severe economic downturn in 2022, triggered by a dire shortage of foreign currency that crippled the nation’s ability to import essential goods like fuel, medicine, and cooking gas.
In 2022, widespread protests erupted, resulting in demonstrators occupying the president’s office and residence, which ultimately led to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation.
Supported by a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka has shown signs of economic recovery; however, the rising cost of living remains a pressing concern for voters. Inflation, while reduced to 0.5% last month from a staggering peak of 70%, has left many families struggling, with a significant portion of the population still facing poverty and debt challenges.
“This election could be a historical turning point for Sri Lanka. Voter enthusiasm is evident,” remarked Dissanayake after casting his ballot at a temple on the outskirts of Colombo.
The incoming president will face the critical task of maintaining the IMF program until 2027 to ensure stable economic growth, stabilize markets, attract foreign investment, and assist a considerable segment of the population in overcoming poverty caused by the crisis.
“The decision lies with the people of this country, and I urge everyone to vote peacefully,” said Wickremesinghe, who voted alongside his wife at the University of Colombo. He expressed satisfaction with his contributions towards stabilizing the government and reinforcing democratic processes.
Sri Lanka employs a ranked voting system, enabling voters to allocate three preferential votes to their preferred candidates. If no candidate secures 50% of the votes in the initial count, a second round is held between the top two candidates, redistributing the preferential votes from other candidates. Analysts suggest this scenario is quite plausible given the competitiveness of the election.
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