A win for acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe could spark more protests by people furious with ruling elite over crippling shortages
An unprecedented secret ballot is underway in Sri Lanka’s parliament as its MPs choose between three candidates for president, amid hopes the new leader will be able to pull the island out of its worst economic and political crisis since independence in 1948.
Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, became acting president last week after the then incumbent, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled to Singapore when protesters seized his official residence and office – roaming the corridors, using his gym and swimming in his pool.Protesters also burned down Wickremesinghe’s private home and stormed his office, but failed to oust him.
Wickremesinghe is backed by a section of the ruling party that had a total of 145 seats as of the last parliamentary election in 2020. Alahapperuma has the support of the other section as well as the main opposition party that won 54 seats last time round.Latest numbers are not clear because some lawmakers have become independents.
Sri Lanka’s parliament in 1993 unanimously chose DB Wijetunga to finish the tenure of assassinated president Ranasinghe Premadasa. This time three candidates are in the fray to complete Rajapaksa’s term, scheduled to end in 2024.
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