Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential Election: Economic Recovery and Tamil Concerns in Focus
Sri Lanka's presidential election to focus on economic recovery and Tamil community concerns
Sri Lanka’s 2024 presidential election focuses on economic recovery, with major regional implications for India
Sri Lanka is holding its first presidential election since the economic crisis of 2022. Voting begins on Saturday, September 21, with 17 million out of 22 million people eligible to vote. The country is choosing its 10th president, with 38 candidates running. The main issues for voters include inflation, poverty, shortages of food and fuel, and social welfare.
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President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, is seeking re-election. He became president after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country in 2022 when the economy collapsed, and protests erupted. Wickremesinghe, a former six-time prime minister, is credited for negotiating a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country recover.
His main opponent, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leads the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party. Dissanayake’s party was involved in past uprisings and played a big role in the 2022 protests. However, he has been criticized for not supporting investigations into war crimes against the Tamil minority, which could affect his support from that group.
Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the main opposition party, is another key candidate. Premadasa, 57, is the son of a former president and narrowly lost to Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the 2019 election. This time, he promises to tax the rich and help reduce poverty.
The economy remains the top concern for voters. The 2022 crisis led to food and fuel shortages, and the poverty rate doubled to 25%. Although Wickremesinghe has stabilized the economy somewhat, he is facing criticism for raising taxes and cutting back on social programs.
India is closely watching the election, as the outcome could impact its relations with Sri Lanka. Many Tamils in Sri Lanka have ties to Tamil Nadu in India, and there are concerns about how they will be treated under a new government. The growing influence of China in Sri Lanka also makes this election important for India.
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