The election of a new president for the rest of the term of the resigned head of state Gotabaya Rajapaksa started on Wednesday in the parliament of Sri Lanka. The 225 MPs elect Rajapaksa’s successor in a secret ballot. Three candidates apply for the highest position in the South Asian crisis country.
Prime Minister and Interim President Ranil Wickremesinghe is the favourite. He is up against former Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma and left-wing opposition leader JVP Anura Dissanayak.
Hundreds of soldiers and police officers in front of Parliament
Parliament Secretary-General Dhammika Dasanayake reminded MPs before the election that it is forbidden to “photograph or show ballot papers to others”. Hundreds of heavily armed soldiers and policemen lined up in front of the parliament building. Protesters were not seen.
Sri Lanka is currently going through a massive economic crisis and massive protests. Recently, the government has been unable to finance major imports such as food, fuel and medicines. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Russia for help.
Mandate would have ended in November 2024
Rajapaksa fled the country on July 9. He later announced his resignation from Singapore. His term would normally have ended in November 2024. Former Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as interim president after Rajapaksa’s resignation.
Wickremesinghe is supported by Rajapaksa’s SLPP party, which has the largest faction. Should he win the election, he is expected to appoint Public Administration Minister Dinesh Gunawardena as the new prime minister. This is a school friend of Wickremesinghe and an avid Rajapaksa devotee.
“Small advantage” for Wickremesinghe
Political pundit Kusal Perera said Wickremesinghe has a “minor advantage” even though his own party won just one seat in the August 2020 general election. “Ranil has regained acceptance of the urban middle class by restoring some utilities such as gas, and he has already evacuated government buildings, demonstrating his determination,” Perera said.
The main challenger to the interim president is former education minister Alahapperuma. The former journalist and human rights activist is supported by the opposition. Alahapperuma had promised that if he won the election, he would “form a true consensus government for the first time in our history.”
New rallies expected
Observers assume Wickremesinghe will take tough action if he wins the election. In addition, new demonstrations of the protest movement are expected. In recent weeks, protesters have called for Wickremesinghe’s resignation as prime minister, accusing him of protecting the interests of the Rajapaksa.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
