Sri Lankans are casting their votes in a significant presidential election on Saturday, the first since mass protests in 2022 led to the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid the country’s worst economic crisis.
This election is viewed as a crucial referendum on the economic reforms implemented to guide Sri Lanka towards recovery.
Many voters are still grappling with the harsh realities of rising inflation, increased taxes, and cuts to subsidies and welfare, leaving them in a precarious financial position. Analysts suggest that economic concerns will dominate voter sentiment in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested race.
Soumya Bhowmick, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, “The country’s soaring inflation, skyrocketing cost-of-living, and poverty have left the electorate desperate for solutions to stabilise prices and improve livelihoods.”
Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was appointed by parliament shortly after Rajapaksa’s departure, is seeking re-election. The 75-year-old has been tasked with navigating the country through its economic challenges, but his administration has faced criticism. He has been accused of suppressing the remnants of the protest movement and allegedly protecting the Rajapaksa family from legal repercussions, claims he has denied.
The election also sees strong competition from leftist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose anti-corruption message has resonated with a growing number of voters. Dissanayake’s rise highlights the electorate’s desire for transparency and accountability in governance.
This election features more candidates than any previous poll in Sri Lanka’s history. While over three dozen individuals are vying for the presidency, four candidates have emerged as the primary contenders.
Alongside Wickremesinghe and Dissanayake, the leader of the opposition, Sajith Premadasa, and Namal Rajapaksa, the 38-year-old nephew of the former president, are also prominent figures in the race.
Polling stations will remain open until 16:00 local time (11:30 WAT), with counting commencing shortly after. However, results are not expected to be announced until Sunday morning, leaving the electorate in suspense as they await the outcome of this pivotal election.
Follow us on:
Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general and Trump ally, has been nominated as US attorney…
Canada’s Dawson City’s newly elected council has stalled governance, rejecting oath to King Charles in…
Edo PDP has accused the APC of orchestrating an attack on party secretariat, destroying and…
The FG has partnered with IOM, announced a strategy to review migration policy and address…
Dangote Group’s Edwin Devakumar has said that by building the refinery, Dangote did what IOCs…
Benjamin Kalu has revealed that Nigerian governors are supportive, committed to reviewing the 161 proposed…
View Comments
<<<<recruitement form="" is="" out="" we="" are="" replacing="" a="" new="" officers="" interested="" applicant="" should="" contact="" us="" for="" more="" information.;Ncs
AUCTION PHONES AT CHEAPER RATE AND AFFORDABLE PRICE ITEL PHONES, NOKIA LUMIA, TECNO PHONE, INFINIX, IPHONES, HTC, IG PHONES, SAMSUNG GALAXY, LENOVO, MOTOROLA, OPPO PHONE,SONY EXPERIA, GIONEE. E. T.C AND MANY OTHERS.
BAGS OF RICE,VEGETABLE OIL, AND BAGS OF CEMENT FOR SALE IN A CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE PRICE.
BAG OF RICE -50kg.₦25,000
GALLON OF VEGETABLE OIL -25LTR.₦18,500
BAGS OF CEMENTS-/₦5,500
BUYER SHOULD CALL 08I ___-3211 __-5O39 WHATSAPP ME ON 08I ___-3211 __-5O39
THE NIGERIA CUSTOMS RECRUITMENT FORM AND REPLACEMENT SLOT FORM ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SALES.
THE LISTED VEHICLES AND THE AUCTION PRICES ARE:-
Golf2=₦250,000
Golf3= ₦350,000
Golf4= ₦450,000
Toyota Land Cruiser-N1.3m
•Toyota Prado N1.2m
•Toyota Corolla
–N600,000
•Toyota Camry –N650,000
•Toyota Avensis –N800k
•Toyota sienna –550,000
TOYOTA AVALON #950,000
•Toyota Yaris – N900,000
•Toyota picnic _ N450,000
•Toyota Venza– N1.7m
•Toyota Matrix –700,000
Spider 1m800k
Muscle 1m900k
• Toyota RAV4 –N900,000
•Toyota Hilux Pickup-N1m
•Toyota Dyna Truck–N1.3million
•Toyota 4 Runner–N1m
tundra 2.670,000
tacoma 2.5Million
•Toyota Hiace Bus –N1.5m
•Toyota Highlander-N1.2m
•Toyota Big daddy-800k
Honda Baby Boy= ₦780,000
Honda Accord EOD= ₦950,000
Honda City= ₦750,000
Honda Crosstour= ₦2M
Honda CR-V= ₦950,000
Honda Odyssey= ₦850,000
Honda Pilot= ₦1.m
Lexus GX460=₦6.6M
Lexus GX470=₦8.4M
Lexus GX570=₦13.8M
Lexus IS-250=₦2.1M
Lexus ES-330=₦1.5M
Lexus ES-350=₦2.6M
Lexus RX300= ₦1.5M
Lexus RX330= ₦2.8M
Lexus RX350= ₦3.2M
Acura RDX=₦3M
Acura RSX=₦2.8M
Acura TSX=₦2.6M
Acura ZDX=₦3.2M
Acura MDX= ₦2.4M
Mercedes-Benz C-Class= ₦950,000
Mercedes-Benz E-Class= ₦1.1M
Mercedes-Benz GLK= ₦4.5m
Mercedes-Benz ML320= ₦850,000
Mercedes Benz ML330= ₦1.8M
Mercedes-Benz ML350= ₦5.2M
Nissan pathfinder= ₦1.9M
Nissan Altima= ₦820,000
Nissan Armanda= ₦3.2M
Nissan Maxima= ₦600,000.e.t.c.
VEHICLES ARE SLIGHTLY NEGOTIABLE〽WE COMMENCE DELIVERY WITHIN 36 STATE IN NIGERIA
THANKS FOR PATRONIZING US.
Bags of cement #5,500
Delivery cost is #2,000〽.〽.〽.〽.〽〽〽〽.〽〽〽〽〽〽.〽.〽.〽.〽〽.〽.〽.〽.〽〽.〽.〽.〽.〽〽.〽.〽.〽.〽〽〽.〽.〽