Namal Rajapaksa to Challenge Wickremesinghe in Sri Lankan Presidential Race

Namal Rajapaksa, son of Sri Lanka's former president, announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. He faces incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, known for guiding the nation through its recent financial crisis. Namal aims to leverage grassroots support and work on economic recovery measures if elected.

Namal Rajapaksa, the son of Sri Lanka's former president, announced his candidacy for the Sept. 21 presidential election on Wednesday, challenging incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, who many analysts consider the frontrunner.

Wickremesinghe, elected by parliament in July 2022, has navigated the Indian Ocean nation through its worst financial crisis in decades, leading to widespread protests that ousted his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Namal, a parliamentarian and member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party, said his candidacy was a last-minute decision but vowed to mobilize grassroots support.

He also plans to negotiate with 92 parliamentarians currently backing Wickremesinghe, which has fragmented support within his uncle's SLPP party. Namal's run will test if his influential family, which has produced two presidents, retains its popularity despite the recent financial turmoil. Sri Lanka's economy is slowly recovering, supported by international bailout programs, and Namal pledges to focus on job creation and small business support.

(With inputs from agencies.)