Politics Opposition candidate ahead in Sri Lanka's presidential election

The left-wing candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake is in the lead in the presidential election in Sri Lanka. According to interim results published by the state election commission one day after voting, around 40 percent of voters opted for the 55-year-old MP and leader of the National People's Power (NPP) coalition. In second place was the opposition leader in parliament, Sajith Premadasa, followed by incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe. The president is elected for a five-year term. The final result is expected today.

Two years after a national bankruptcy, many people in the South Asian island state associate the election with the hope of economic stability. The election, which was attended by around 17 million eligible voters, was therefore also seen as a vote on the government's reform program. Wickremesinghe, who had already been prime minister several times, had taken over the office of president on an interim basis after his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled two years ago.

According to the Sri Lankan newspaper "Daily Mirror", the head of the election commission spoke of the most peaceful elections in the country's history. Nevertheless, the authorities imposed a nationwide curfew a few hours after the election in order to maintain "public safety". According to the Daily Mirror, the ban was to be lifted at midday on Sunday (local time).

Inflation during the economic crisis exceeded 60 percent at times

The dramatic economic crisis had triggered massive protests in Sri Lanka. The highly indebted state also lacked the means to import vital goods such as food. At times, inflation exceeded 60 percent. Despite signs of a slow recovery, the country is still struggling with the consequences of the crisis and the subsequent state bankruptcy.

Premadasa and Dissanayake would like to renegotiate the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has granted the country an aid program of around three billion US dollars (currently around 2.7 billion euros). The disbursement of the loan is linked to strict conditions such as the implementation of certain reforms and unpopular austerity measures.

SDA