Sri Lankans Head to Polls in First Presidential Election Since 2022 Economic Collapse
Sri Lanka is holding its first presidential election since the 2022 mass protests that ousted former leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to the country’s worst economic crisis. The election is seen as a referendum on economic reforms aimed at recovery, though many voters continue to struggle with high taxes and cuts to subsidies.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took over after Rajapaksa’s exit, is seeking re-election. Despite stabilising inflation and the currency, his austerity measures have been unpopular. His main opponents include leftist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and Namal Rajapaksa, the nephew of the ousted president.
The election’s outcome could be historic, as a clear winner may not emerge from the first round of voting for the first time, potentially triggering a second-round count. Economic concerns, including job scarcity and rising living costs, are expected to heavily influence voter decisions.
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