Sri Lanka will hold its first presidential election in September since an unprecedented economic crisis sparked widespread unrest. The election will be a test of public sentiment following the 2022 economic downturn, which led to months of shortages.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took office after protests forced his predecessor to flee, plans to run for reelection. He faces opposition from at least two rivals who criticize his austerity measures implemented to secure an IMF bailout.
The election campaign will focus on economic issues as the country recovers from its worst recession, with inflation returning to normal levels. Wickremesinghe has renegotiated Sri Lanka’s debt and implemented unpopular tax hikes and subsidy cuts.
Opposition parties have vowed to renegotiate the IMF bailout terms and offer alternative approaches to economic recovery. The president’s main challenger, Sajith Premadasa, supports economic reforms but seeks to lessen the impact of tax increases on the public. A leftist party leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, opposes the privatization of state companies.
The election, scheduled for September 21, will see more than 17 million Sri Lankans eligible to vote. The election commission has allocated $33 million for the poll.
