Sri Lanka's Election: A Crucial Test of Recovery and Reform

Millions of Sri Lankans are voting in a significant presidential election, the first since the country's economic collapse in 2022. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe aims for re-election, facing 37 other candidates. The election will test his economic recovery policies and determine whether conventional politics can be overthrown.

Millions of Sri Lankans headed to the polls on Saturday in a pivotal presidential election, marking the island nation's first major electoral exercise since its severe economic meltdown in 2022. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, credited for steering the country towards recovery, is vying for re-election in a tightly contested race featuring 38 candidates.

More than 17 million citizens are casting their votes at over 13,400 polling stations across the country. An estimated 200,000 officials and 63,000 police personnel have been mobilized to manage and secure the electoral process, which began at 7 am and will conclude at 4 pm. Initial results are expected by Sunday.

Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency following the ousting of Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid the 2022 economic turmoil, faces significant competition from Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People's Power (NPP) and Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). The contest is centered around economic recovery plans, with all major candidates endorsing reforms tied to an IMF bailout despite varying on some aspects of the approach.

(With inputs from agencies.)