Sri Lanka's upcoming presidential election on September 21, 2024, is crucial as the country seeks to navigate its way out of a severe economic crisis that peaked in 2022. Under President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the economy has shown signs of recovery, but many citizens still face high living costs and low incomes. This election will serve as a referendum on the $3 billion IMF loan program and the overall political system, which many view as corrupt and dynastic. Wickremesinghe faces competition from opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Marxist candidate Anura Dissanayake. Despite economic improvement, the public remains skeptical due to ongoing hardships and Wickremesinghe's association with the previous Rajapaksa regime. The election also highlights the deep racial and ethnic divisions that persist in the country, particularly between Sinhalese and Tamil communities.