<p>Sri Lanka will hold presidential election on September 21 and current incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest as an independent. This is the first election since the turbulent years of economic instability, nationwide protests, and ouster of the Rajapaksa clan's government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are the main things you should know about the Sri Lanka presidential elections:</p>

<h2><strong>Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2024: Dates</strong></h2>

<p>The presidential election will be held on September 21, according to Sri Lanka's election commission. Nominations will be accepted on August 15 as per a government gazette notification.</p>

<h2><strong>Ranil Wickeremesinghe to contest as independent</strong></h2>

<p>The incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is the leader of the United National Party,&nbsp;will contest the election as an independent candidate. A bond has been placed for this, as per reports on Friday (July 26).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-sri-lanka-looking-at-trading-in-national-currencies-sri-lankan-minister-balasuriya-740385">India, Sri Lanka looking at trading in national currencies: Sri Lankan Minister Balasuriya</a></strong></p>

<h2>Who are the other possible candidates in Sri Lanaka presidential election?</h2>

<p>Opposition leader Sajit Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya alliance is considered the main rival for Wickeremesinghe. Sajit is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa.</p>

<p>The other possible candidate is Anura Kumara Dissanayake&nbsp;of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. His Marxist-Leninist Communist party saw a revival in fortunes during the protests caused by the economic collapse in the country.</p>

<h2>Elections happening for first time since economic turmoil</h2>

<p>The last presidential elections were in 2019, which was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka People's Front. Gotabaya appointed his brother, former president&nbsp;Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister. Soon the economic crisis and Covid pandemic followed, and the Rajapaksa clan became deeply unpopular, also because they had installed family members in key ministerial posts.</p>

<h2>Sri Lanka's economic crisis and protests. What had really happened?</h2>

<p>Sri Lanka's economic woes started after a foreign exchange crisis, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic of 2020. The tourism sector, one of its mainstays for foreign exchange, was hit badly after the Islamic State terror attacks of 2019. That's when the pandemic also hit.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka to hold Presidential elections in Septemeber, five-week part of campaign released</strong></p>

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<p>Massive inflation followed, making essential items like&nbsp;food, petrol, cooking gas and medicinces costlier. There was shortages and long lines at the fuel pumps for weeks, and frequent and long power blackouts. This led to massive protests. The anger was directed at the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya, who left the country amid public anger, resigned in 2022. Wickremesinghe, who had been made&nbsp;prime minister amid the protests, was appointed as president in a vote in parliament, as per provisions of Sri Lanka's constitution.</p>

<p>Eventually, the government declared bankruptcy in 2022, suspending loan repayments to the tune of $83 billion.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Elections a litmus test for financial reforms of Wickremesinghe</strong></h2>

<p>Currently the nation is going through a debt restructuring process. It managed to get a four-year bailout from International Monetary Fund in March 2023 and is engaged in financial reforms.</p>

<p>A seasoned statesman and politician, Wickremesinghe, 75, had been prime minister for five times. Since assuming charge as president, Wickremesinghe renegotiated the debts to the tune of $10 billion owed to India, France, Japan and China and entered into debt restructuring agreements. This will enable Sri Lanka to defer loan instalment payments to them till 2028. Concessions have been given to the loans too, until 2043.</p>

<p>The country's economy is slowly emerging out of the doldrums, but the price it is paying through financial reforms is hurting many in the country, for instance over increase in power bills, and tax hikes for salaried individuals and businesses. The vote will decide on whether the people are standing with Wickremesinghe on the economic reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How is Sri Lanka presidential election held?</h2>

<p>Presidents are chosen throgh direct franchise in Sri Lanka. In theory, Sri Lanka has a 'ranked voting' system whereby voters can mark their preferecne for candidates. But in practice, only one candidate is marked in the ballot.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sri Lanka will hold presidential election on September 21 and current incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest as an independent. This is the first election since the turbulent years of economic instability, nationwide protests, and ouster of the Rajapaksa clan's government.

Sri Lanka will hold presidential election on September 21 and current incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest as an independent. This is the first election since the turbulent years of economic instability, nationwide protests, and ouster of the Rajapaksa clan's government. Here are the main things you should know about the Sri Lanka presidential elections: Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2024: Dates The presidential election will be held on September 21, according to Sri Lanka's election commission. Nominations will be accepted on August 15 as per a government gazette notification. Ranil Wickeremesinghe to contest as independent The incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is the leader of the United National Party, will contest the election as an independent candidate. A bond has been placed for this, as per reports on Friday (July 26). Also read | India, Sri Lanka looking at trading in national currencies: Sri Lankan Minister Balasuriya Who are the other possible candidates in Sri Lanaka presidential election? Opposition leader Sajit Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya alliance is considered the main rival for Wickeremesinghe. Sajit is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa. The other possible candidate is Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. His Marxist-Leninist Communist party saw a revival in fortunes during the protests caused by the economic collapse in the country. Elections happening for first time since economic turmoil The last presidential elections were in 2019, which was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka People's Front. Gotabaya appointed his brother, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister. Soon the economic crisis and Covid pandemic followed, and the Rajapaksa clan became deeply unpopular, also because they had installed family members in key ministerial posts. Sri Lanka's economic crisis and protests. What had really happened? Sri Lanka's economic woes started after a foreign exchange crisis, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic of 2020. The tourism sector, one of its mainstays for foreign exchange, was hit badly after the Islamic State terror attacks of 2019. That's when the pandemic also hit. Also watch | Sri Lanka to hold Presidential elections in Septemeber, five-week part of campaign released × Massive inflation followed, making essential items like food, petrol, cooking gas and medicinces costlier. There was shortages and long lines at the fuel pumps for weeks, and frequent and long power blackouts. This led to massive protests. The anger was directed at the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya, who left the country amid public anger, resigned in 2022. Wickremesinghe, who had been made prime minister amid the protests, was appointed as president in a vote in parliament, as per provisions of Sri Lanka's constitution. Eventually, the government declared bankruptcy in 2022, suspending loan repayments to the tune of $83 billion. Elections a litmus test for financial reforms of Wickremesinghe Currently the nation is going through a debt restructuring process. It managed to get a four-year bailout from International Monetary Fund in March 2023 and is engaged in financial reforms. A seasoned statesman and politician, Wickremesinghe, 75, had been prime minister for five times. Since assuming charge as president, Wickremesinghe renegotiated the debts to the tune of $10 billion owed to India, France, Japan and China and entered into debt restructuring agreements. This will enable Sri Lanka to defer loan instalment payments to them till 2028. Concessions have been given to the loans too, until 2043. The country's economy is slowly emerging out of the doldrums, but the price it is paying through financial reforms is hurting many in the country, for instance over increase in power bills, and tax hikes for salaried individuals and businesses. The vote will decide on whether the people are standing with Wickremesinghe on the economic reforms. How is Sri Lanka presidential election held? Presidents are chosen throgh direct franchise in Sri Lanka. In theory, Sri Lanka has a 'ranked voting' system whereby voters can mark their preferecne for candidates. But in practice, only one candidate is marked in the ballot. (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka presidential election on Sep 21: Ranil Wickremesinghe to fight as independent. What we know

<p>Months after former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was denied a US visa following the mass protests that ousted him from power, he along with his family left for the United States via Dubai.&nbsp;Rajapaksa, who was a US citizen, had revoked his US citizenship in order to contest for Sri Lankan presidential polls in 2019.&nbsp;Rajapaksa took early retirement from the Sri Lanka Army and moved into the field of information technology, before immigrating to the United States in 1998. He returned to Sri Lanka in 2005.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Rajapaksa and his family left for the US via Dubai during the wee hours of December 27, multiple Colombo-based papers reported.&nbsp;Gotabaya was reportedly awaiting to obtain a US Green Card to return to America and settle there with his family, after having applied for the status in August 2022.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankas-ousted-leader-gotabaya-rajapaksa-leaves-for-the-us-with-family-546985">Sri Lanka's ousted leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves for the US with family</a></strong></p>

<p>Gotabaya Rajapaksa was accompanied by his wife Ayoma Rajapaksa, his son Manor Rajapaksa, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchild.</p>

<p>They left for the US via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight at 2.55 am&nbsp;on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Rajapaksa's previous attempts to flee to the US</strong></p>

<p>At the peak of popular protests in Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sought to board a flight to Dubai on July 11 but the immigration staff did not facilitate his boarding. A CNN report claimed that the Rajapaksa family had six boarding passes for an Emirates flight that they were supposed to take had they been facilitated to board through the 'silk route', a fast track route for VIPs.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sri-lankas-former-president-rajapaksa-family-leaves-for-us-says-reports-547306">Sri Lanka's ousted ex-president Rajapaksa, family leaves for U.S.</a></strong></p>

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<p>The silk route was then put on hold to prevent politicians from fleeing. It remains unclear if Rajapaksas fled through the silk route this time.</p>

<p>"The President and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main international airport after missing four flights that could have taken them to the United Arab Emirates," AFP had said in its report from July 2022.</p>

<p>Sri Lanka is currently facing an economic crisis while it waits for International Monetary Fund (IMF) to formally approve a USD 2.9 billion bailout package. IMF and Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement to support the economic policies of the country with a 48-month arrangement, giving the country the much-needed headroom to combat economic uncertainty. The country has also sought to trade in Indian rupees with assistance from New Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Months after former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was denied a US visa following the mass protests that ousted him from power, he along with his family left for the United States via Dubai.

Months after former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was denied a US visa following the mass protests that ousted him from power, he along with his family left for the United States via Dubai. Rajapaksa, who was a US citizen, had revoked his US citizenship in order to contest for Sri Lankan presidential polls in 2019. Rajapaksa took early retirement from the Sri Lanka Army and moved into the field of information technology, before immigrating to the United States in 1998. He returned to Sri Lanka in 2005. According to officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Rajapaksa and his family left for the US via Dubai during the wee hours of December 27, multiple Colombo-based papers reported. Gotabaya was reportedly awaiting to obtain a US Green Card to return to America and settle there with his family, after having applied for the status in August 2022. ALSO READ | Sri Lanka's ousted leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa leaves for the US with family Gotabaya Rajapaksa was accompanied by his wife Ayoma Rajapaksa, his son Manor Rajapaksa, his daughter-in-law, and his grandchild. They left for the US via Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight at 2.55 am on Tuesday. Rajapaksa's previous attempts to flee to the US At the peak of popular protests in Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sought to board a flight to Dubai on July 11 but the immigration staff did not facilitate his boarding. A CNN report claimed that the Rajapaksa family had six boarding passes for an Emirates flight that they were supposed to take had they been facilitated to board through the 'silk route', a fast track route for VIPs. WATCH | Sri Lanka's ousted ex-president Rajapaksa, family leaves for U.S. × The silk route was then put on hold to prevent politicians from fleeing. It remains unclear if Rajapaksas fled through the silk route this time. "The President and his wife spent the night at a military base next to the main international airport after missing four flights that could have taken them to the United Arab Emirates," AFP had said in its report from July 2022. Sri Lanka is currently facing an economic crisis while it waits for International Monetary Fund (IMF) to formally approve a USD 2.9 billion bailout package. IMF and Sri Lanka reached a staff-level agreement to support the economic policies of the country with a 48-month arrangement, giving the country the much-needed headroom to combat economic uncertainty. The country has also sought to trade in Indian rupees with assistance from New Delhi. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

As Sri Lanka calms down after protests, Gotabaya flees to the US via Dubai with family

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Sri Lanka presidential election on Sep 21: Ranil Wickremesinghe to fight as independent. What we know

As Sri Lanka calms down after protests, Gotabaya flees to the US via Dubai with family