Sri Lanka: 17 million voters to decide fate of 38 candidates

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By  News On Air   Sep 19, 2024

Campaigning for Sri Lanka’s presidential elections will conclude at midnight tonight, after which the silence period will begin and remain in effect until the elections are held on Saturday. Sri Lanka’s Election Commission has warned that any individual or groups continuing to canvass or promote candidates in this silent period will be violating the election laws.

The front runners are holding their last rallies today centred around the capital Colombo after having held rallies across the island till yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Minister for Water Supply, Jeevan Thondaman, has issued a stark warning against the populist promises of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presidential candidate and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, labelling him “Promise Premadasa.” Taking to X, the minister suggested that populist promises by the opposition leader would destabilise the country’s fragile recovery.

Mr. Premadasa has been addressing rallies, reiterating his poll promises mentioned in his manifesto, including a new era for the common man, restoring Sri Lanka to past glory, Easter attack investigations, and implementation of the 13th Amendment, among others. Sri Lanka had faced the peak of its worst ever economic crisis in 2022, which is attributed to the corruption and populist policies of the Gotabaya government.

A total of 17 million voters will decide the fate of 38 candidates on the 21st of September, when they will vote to elect the ninth Executive President. Among the front runners are incumbent President Ranil Wickremasinghe, SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa, and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.