Sri Lanka is choosing its next president today, September 21, 2024, in what is essentially a referendum on the unpopular International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity plan.
The plan was enacted after the country’s unprecedented financial crisis, which led to widespread shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.
Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, is seeking re-election, boasting of his achievements in stabilizing the economy. “I’ve taken this country out of bankruptcy,” he said after casting his ballot. “I will now deliver Sri Lanka a developed economy, developed social system, and developed political system.”
However, Wickremesinghe’s tax hikes and other measures have left millions struggling to make ends meet. Lawyer and musician Soundarie David Rodrigo expressed the sentiments of many voters, saying, “The country has been through a lot. So I just don’t want to see another upheaval coming soon.”
Wickremesinghe faces strong opposition from Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and Sajith Premadasa. Dissanayaka, leader of the Marxist party, has gained support by pledging to change the country’s “corrupt” political culture. “After the victory, there should be no clashes, no violence,” he said. “Our country needs a new political culture.”
Premadasa, son of a former president assassinated in 1993, has vowed to fight endemic corruption. Both Dissanayaka and Premadasa have promised to renegotiate the IMF rescue package terms.
A total of 39 candidates are vying for the presidency, with over 17 million people eligible to vote. The election has seen a massive deployment of security personnel, with over 63,000 police guarding polling booths and counting centers. Polls close at 4:00 pm local time, with results expected on Sunday.
Experts warn that Sri Lanka’s economy remains vulnerable, with payments on its $46 billion foreign debt yet to resume since the 2022 government default. The IMF acknowledges progress but notes that the country is “not out of the woods yet.” As voter Soundarie David Rodrigo aptly put it, “We have a lot of challenges ahead, so good luck to whoever comes.”
