Sri Lanka awaits presidential election results as polling ends

Polling in Sri Lanka’s highly anticipated presidential election concluded on Saturday, marking a pivotal moment for the island nation still reeling from the financial turmoil that led to its bankruptcy in 2022. From 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., over 17 million eligible voters cast their ballots at 13,421 polling stations, with results expected on Sunday.

This election, the first since the nation’s economic collapse forced a change in government, has seen a crowded race with nearly 40 candidates vying for the presidency. Key contenders include incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has led Sri Lanka through a tentative recovery; opposition leader Sajith Premadasa; Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist-leaning parliamentarian; and Namal Rajapaksa, scion of the powerful political dynasty that dominated the nation’s leadership until the financial meltdown.

For many Sri Lankans, this election is seen as a referendum on Wickremesinghe’s two years in office, during which the country has shown signs of economic stabilization. “We’ve come a long way since 2022, but there’s still so much more to fix,” said a Colombo voter who declined to be named.

Wickremesinghe’s administration has implemented austerity measures and negotiated with international lenders to manage the country’s debt, though critics argue that these moves have burdened the public with higher taxes and living costs. Whether these efforts will resonate with a frustrated electorate remains to be seen.

As Sri Lanka awaits the results, the election stands as a defining moment not only for its political leadership but for the future direction of a country eager for economic revival.