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Voting is being held today for the presidential election in Sri Lanka. Voting has started at 7 am and will continue till 5 pm. The election results are expected on 22 September. This is Sri Lanka's first election after the collapse of the economy. About 1 crore 70 lakh voters will cast their votes at more than 13,400 polling stations. More than two lakh officials have been deployed to conduct fair elections.
In Sri Lanka's triangular election contest, Ranil Wickremesinghe is facing a challenge from 56-year-old Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People's Power and 57-year-old Sajith Premadasa of the main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya. It is worth noting that in the year 2022, Sri Lanka's economy collapsed completely. Inflation increased so much that people revolted against the then government. Due to which the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country.
Security beefed up for Sri Lankan elections
For this high voltage election for the post of President in Sri Lanka, 63 thousand policemen have been given the entire responsibility of security. It is worth noting that a total of 38 candidates are trying their luck in the presidential election of Sri Lanka. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe is contesting again as an independent candidate for his efforts to pull the country out of the economic crisis. Many economic experts believe that Sri Lanka's economy has recovered very fast under the leadership of Wickremesinghe.
Son of former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is also in the election fray
Mahinda Rajapaksa is the elder brother of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Both of them are not contesting the presidential election. Gotabaya Rajapaksa's son Namal is the presidential candidate from the Sri Lanka Podu Peramuna Party (SLPP). In the surveys conducted so far, Namal has not been seen as a strong contender for the highest post in the country. Two years ago, the people of Sri Lanka revolted against the Rajapaksa family. They wanted to get rid of the monopoly of the Rajapaksa family in Sri Lankan politics. Therefore, Namal will not be able to get the support of the public in this election.
The economy is back on track under the leadership of Wickremesinghe
However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has imposed strict conditions for Sri Lanka's bailout package as well as economic reforms in the country. In these circumstances, Ranil Wickremesinghe had to try to bring the country's economy back on track.