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Two years after suffering its worst-ever economic crisis, Sri Lankans will vote for a new President in a tightly contested election on Saturday (September 21) that will determine the fate of the fragile economy.

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Voting for Sri Lanka's presidential election has begun, with 17 million voters set to decide the country's next leader. As the nation votes, the election promises to be a turning point for Sri Lanka's future. Watch in for more details!

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe is fighting an uphill battle for a fresh mandate. Can leading candidate Aruna Dissanayake stop Wickremesinghe's re-election bid? Will Ranil Wickremesinghe survive the test or will Sri Lanka see a new president? Counting begins.

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Cash-strapped Sri Lanka voted for its next president Saturday in an effective referendum on an unpopular International Monetary Fund austerity plan enacted after the island nation's unprecedented financial crisis.

Turnout was at nearly 70 per cent an hour before polling stations closed at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT), an election commission official said, citing provisional figures.

The record for voter turnout in a Sri Lankan presidential election was set in 2019 with 83.72 per cent.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is fighting an uphill battle for a fresh mandate to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-votes-in-presidential-election-why-do-these-polls-matter-for-india-760631">Also read:&nbsp;Sri Lanka votes in presidential election: Why do these polls matter for India?</a>

His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn in 2022 saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor, who promptly fled the country.

"I've taken this country out of bankruptcy," Wickremesinghe, 75, said after casting his ballot in the morning.

"I will now deliver Sri Lanka a developed economy, developed social system and developed political system."

But Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures, imposed under the terms of a $2.9 billion IMF bailout, have left millions struggling to make ends meet.

Watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka elections: Sri Lankans vote in first election after 2022 economic crisis

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"The country has been through a lot," lawyer and musician Soundarie David Rodrigo told AFP after casting her vote in Colombo.

"So I just don't want to see another upheaval coming soon."

Wickremesinghe is tipped to lose to one of two formidable challengers. One is Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the leader of a once-marginal Marxist party tarnished by its violent past.&nbsp;

The party led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that left more than 80,000 people dead, and it won less than four per cent of the vote in the previous parliamentary elections.

But Sri Lanka's crisis has proven an opportunity for the 55-year-old Dissanayaka, who has seen a surge of support based on his pledge to change the island's "corrupt" political culture.

He said at a polling station he was confident of securing the top job.

"After the victory, there should be no clashes, no violence," he said. "Our country needs a new political culture."

Fellow opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, 57, the son of a former president assassinated in 1993 during the country's decades-long civil war, is also expected to make a strong showing.

Premadasa has vowed to fight endemic corruption, and both he and Dissanayaka have pledged to renegotiate the terms of the IMF rescue package.

<h2>Three-way race&nbsp;</h2>

Political analyst Kusal Perera told AFP it was difficult to predict a winner from the three-way race -- the first in the island's history.

"What is clear is that no candidate will surpass the 50 percent mark" needed to win outright, he said.

Officials would then carry out a count of second- and third-preference votes to determine the winner.

More than 17 million people were eligible to vote in the election, with more than 63,000 police deployed to guard polling booths and counting centres in schools and temples.

The government also banned the sale of liquor over the weekend and said no victory rallies or celebrations would be permitted until a week after the results were announced.

Counting is set to begin on Saturday evening and a result is expected on Sunday, but an official outcome could be delayed if the contest is close.

Schools were closed on Friday to be converted into polling stations, which were staffed by more than 200,000 public servants deployed to conduct the vote.

<h2>'Not out of the woods'&nbsp;</h2>

Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, with public anger widespread over the hardships endured since the peak of the crisis two years ago.

Official data showed that Sri Lanka's poverty rate doubled to 25 per cent between 2021 and 2022, adding more than 2.5 million people to those already living on less than $3.65 a day.

Experts warn that Sri Lanka's economy is still vulnerable, with payments on the island's $46 billion foreign debt yet to resume since a 2022 government default.

The IMF said reforms enacted by Wickremesinghe's government were beginning to pay off, with growth slowly returning.

"A lot of progress has been made," the IMF's Julie Kozack told reporters in Washington last week.

"But the country is not out of the woods yet."&nbsp;

Voter Soundarie David Rodrigo agreed.

"We have a lot of challenges ahead so good luck to whoever comes," she told AFP.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka voted for its next president Saturday in an effective referendum on an unpopular International Monetary Fund austerity plan enacted after the island nation's unprecedented financial crisis.

Cash-strapped Sri Lanka voted for its next president Saturday in an effective referendum on an unpopular International Monetary Fund austerity plan enacted after the island nation's unprecedented financial crisis. Turnout was at nearly 70 per cent an hour before polling stations closed at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT), an election commission official said, citing provisional figures. The record for voter turnout in a Sri Lankan presidential election was set in 2019 with 83.72 per cent. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is fighting an uphill battle for a fresh mandate to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages. Also read: Sri Lanka votes in presidential election: Why do these polls matter for India? His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn in 2022 saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor, who promptly fled the country. "I've taken this country out of bankruptcy," Wickremesinghe, 75, said after casting his ballot in the morning. "I will now deliver Sri Lanka a developed economy, developed social system and developed political system." But Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures, imposed under the terms of a $2.9 billion IMF bailout, have left millions struggling to make ends meet. Watch | Sri Lanka elections: Sri Lankans vote in first election after 2022 economic crisis × "The country has been through a lot," lawyer and musician Soundarie David Rodrigo told AFP after casting her vote in Colombo. "So I just don't want to see another upheaval coming soon." Wickremesinghe is tipped to lose to one of two formidable challengers. One is Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the leader of a once-marginal Marxist party tarnished by its violent past. The party led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that left more than 80,000 people dead, and it won less than four per cent of the vote in the previous parliamentary elections. But Sri Lanka's crisis has proven an opportunity for the 55-year-old Dissanayaka, who has seen a surge of support based on his pledge to change the island's "corrupt" political culture. He said at a polling station he was confident of securing the top job. "After the victory, there should be no clashes, no violence," he said. "Our country needs a new political culture." Fellow opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, 57, the son of a former president assassinated in 1993 during the country's decades-long civil war, is also expected to make a strong showing. Premadasa has vowed to fight endemic corruption, and both he and Dissanayaka have pledged to renegotiate the terms of the IMF rescue package. Three-way race Political analyst Kusal Perera told AFP it was difficult to predict a winner from the three-way race -- the first in the island's history. "What is clear is that no candidate will surpass the 50 percent mark" needed to win outright, he said. Officials would then carry out a count of second- and third-preference votes to determine the winner. More than 17 million people were eligible to vote in the election, with more than 63,000 police deployed to guard polling booths and counting centres in schools and temples. The government also banned the sale of liquor over the weekend and said no victory rallies or celebrations would be permitted until a week after the results were announced. Counting is set to begin on Saturday evening and a result is expected on Sunday, but an official outcome could be delayed if the contest is close. Schools were closed on Friday to be converted into polling stations, which were staffed by more than 200,000 public servants deployed to conduct the vote. 'Not out of the woods' Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, with public anger widespread over the hardships endured since the peak of the crisis two years ago. Official data showed that Sri Lanka's poverty rate doubled to 25 per cent between 2021 and 2022, adding more than 2.5 million people to those already living on less than $3.65 a day. Experts warn that Sri Lanka's economy is still vulnerable, with payments on the island's $46 billion foreign debt yet to resume since a 2022 government default. The IMF said reforms enacted by Wickremesinghe's government were beginning to pay off, with growth slowly returning. "A lot of progress has been made," the IMF's Julie Kozack told reporters in Washington last week. "But the country is not out of the woods yet." Voter Soundarie David Rodrigo agreed. "We have a lot of challenges ahead so good luck to whoever comes," she told AFP. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

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