Two years since thousands of protesters swarmed the presidential palace in Sri Lanka, voters are heading to the polls, where three presidential candidates have emerged as frontrunners for the first time.
Two years after an unprecedented economic crisis, many Sri Lankans want this presidential election to change the country for goodTwo years after an unprecedented economic crisis, many Sri Lankans want this presidential election to change the country for goodAt the height of Sri Lanka's economic crisis in 2022, after months at a protest camp calling for the resignation of the country's president, Nixon Chandrenthan finally had a good night's sleep.
Critical medicines were hard to come by and power frequently went out. At one point inflation soared to 70 per cent. Incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was installed days after Mr Rajapaksa eventually resigned, is hoping to win an election in his own right for the first time. Alongside the president and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, a third candidate has emerged: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of a leftist alliance.
She said her medicine has doubled in price since the economic crisis, which will be at the front of her mind when she votes on Saturday."A good man who does those things should be voted for. I don't know who will do it. Who should I give my vote to?"But she's sure of one thing.She said increased taxes brought in as part of the IMF deal have made providing for her family of five difficult."The rich people have to pay the taxes," she said.
Mr Dissanayake, whose Marxist party played a major role in the 2022 protest movement, is hoping to capitalise on that distrust.
Colombo Vote Crisis Economy Gotabaya Rajapaksa Anura Kumara Dissanayake IMF Sajith Premadasa International Monetary Fund
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