Sri Lanka's Presidential Election Amid Economic Crisis

Sri Lanka is holding its first presidential election since the 2022 economic collapse that led to massive protests and the ousting of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The central issue for voters is the economy, which has seen severe hardships due to austerity measures implemented by incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe as part of an IMF bailout plan. Wickremesinghe faces strong challenges from leftist Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who promises anti-corruption and economic reform, and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who has a centrist approach. Over 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to vote, and the election is expected to be tight, with economic recovery and relief from hardships as primary voter concerns. The outcome will be pivotal in determining the country's future political and economic trajectory.