Sri Lanka Presidential Election Set for September 21

Sri Lanka's Election Commission has accepted a record 39 candidates for the upcoming presidential election on September 21, 2024, a notable increase from 35 candidates in 2019. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is running as an independent, seeks to continue his economic reform agenda amidst ongoing financial challenges. His main challengers include Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who advocate for change after the nation’s severe economic crisis led to the ousting of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022. Notably, the election features no female candidates among the 39 aspirants. The election is viewed as a referendum on Wickremesinghe's policies, which have seen some economic improvements but have also resulted in higher living costs for citizens. Over 17 million voters are eligible to participate in this critical electoral event.