Who are the five key candidates in a hotly contested election? – India TV

ColomboSri Lanka is due to hold a presidential election on Saturday (September 21) that many consider to be a close call and that will determine the future of a fragile economy reeling under the worst economic crisis in its history. The economically struggling government is currently led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is seeking re-election to continue his bold reforms but faces an uphill battle with his left-leaning rivals.

Some 17 million of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people are eligible to vote in the first election since protests against economic hardship in 2022 forced Rajapaksa to flee the country and subsequently resign. Wickremesinghe has since managed a shaky recovery, bolstered by the help of a $2.9 billion IMF bailout program and a $25 billion debt restructuring process.

While there are a total of 38 candidates in the race for the post of president, President Wickremesinghe faces a tight election with four other key candidates: opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, Marxist-leaning politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Rajapaksa family scion Namal Rajapaksa, and Nuwan Bopage.

A look at the five key candidates in Sri Lanka’s presidential election

1. Ranil Wickremesinghe

Wickremesinghe, 75, became Sri Lanka’s president as the economy, which collapsed in 2022 following a severe dollar shortage, struggled with rising inflation and a battered currency that forced Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s economy to collapse. Wickremesinghe is running as an independent candidate, as his re-election bid failed to secure the formal backing of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the party with the most seats in the 225-member parliament.

However, he has the support of more than 90 lawmakers, putting him in a strong position. Having served as prime minister a record six times, Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) has only one seat in parliament and will need to secure the support of key parties to strengthen his chances of being re-elected.

2. Anura Kumara Dissanayake

The 55-year-old Marxist is running on the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, which includes his Marxist-leaning People’s Liberation Front (PLF) party. His party has traditionally supported stronger state intervention and more closed market economic policies. Dissanayake’s promise of tough anti-corruption measures and pro-poor policies has given his candidacy a popular boost.

The communist leader is widely regarded as an outsider in the race, but his campaign has gained prominence thanks to his sweeping reforms, which tackle corruption and guarantee economic relief. He has promised a complete overhaul of the system, an end to family rule and improved governance structures, and wants to end Rajapaksa’s style of politics. However, his party has only three seats in parliament and has never come close to national power.

3. Sajith Premadasa

Premadasa, 57, is the leader of the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party and son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa, who is credited with brutally suppressing the second communist insurgency and was assassinated by an LTTE terrorist in 1993. He was part of Wickremesinghe’s UNP from 1994 and was appointed to key portfolios until he broke ranks with the party after differences with the president.

Premadasa favours a mix of interventionist economic policies and free-market “pro-poor” policies. His centrist, more left-leaning party has called for changes to the $2.9 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund and outlined plans to adjust some targets, such as changing taxes to reduce the cost of living. He has also promised constitutional reforms, a boost to tourism and responsible government.

4. Namal Rajapaksa

The 38-year-old heir to the influential Rajapaksa family and son of former President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal surprised many by entering the presidential race. He is a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, founded by his uncle Basil, which has a majority in parliament. His candidacy was announced at the last minute after business tycoon Dhammika Perera withdrew from the race for personal reasons.

Despite not holding any official position in the government, Namal has made numerous foreign trips, including visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the construction of the temple. As a scion of a high-profile family, Namal is friendly with the Congress leader. Raul GandhiBollywood actor Salman KhanPakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto and the son of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeed Wazed Joy, among others.

5. Nuwan Bopage

Bopage is the candidate of the People’s Struggle Alliance formed by activists during the 2022 unrest. A lawyer by training, Bopage hopes to build on the remnants of the massive popular uprising that ousted Gotabaya Rajapaksa two years ago. He has taken a strong stance against corruption, backed more pro-poor policies and opposed Sri Lanka’s alignment with the IMF programme.

Who is leading the polls?

The Institute for Health Policy’s (IHP) Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker poll shows Wickremesinghe, who is running as an independent, in third place. Dissanayake is the front-runner and Premadasa, of the centrist and more left-leaning Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party, is in second place. The economy and growth are the top issues for voters when Sri Lanka goes to the polls on Saturday.

Some 17 million of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people are eligible to vote in the first election since protests against economic hardship in 2022 forced Rajapaksa to flee the country and subsequently resign. Like India, Sri Lanka also has a first-past-the-post system that allows voters to cast three preferential votes for their chosen candidates, with the candidate who wins 50 percent of the vote or more declared the winner.

Votes will be counted by government employees after voting is over, under the supervision of Election Commission officials, election observers and candidates’ representatives. The Election Commission will formally announce the winner, probably on Sunday. The winner will take the presidential oath, usually on the same day, and appoint a new cabinet of ministers.

(with contributions from the agency)

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