Sri Lankan lawmakers have elected Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's president. Disappointed protesters hit the streets, promising to continue the pressure campaign against him. Palki Sharma decodes Wickremesinghe's rise from election defeat in 2020 to presidency in 2022.

Gravitas: Protests follow Wickremesinghe's election as President

<p>To what extent China is responsible for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka? Bill Burns, who is the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), on Wednesday (July 20) blamed the "dumb bets" made by the South Asian nation Sri Lanka on China for the ongoing economic crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the past few months, Sri Lanka suffered through food and fuel shortages, lengthy blackouts and galloping inflation as the nation ran out of foreign currency to import vital goods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Now, Burns said that high-debt Chinese investment by Sri Lanka's leaders was one of the major factors that led to the South Asian country's economic collapse. He noted that the Chinese have a lot of weight to throw around and they can make a very appealing case for their investments.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-india-pm-lal-bahadur-shastris-family-demands-fresh-probe-into-his-death-499233">Former India pm Lal Bahadur Shastri's family demands fresh probe into his death</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As quoted by news agency AFP, Burns told the Aspen Security Forum that all the countries should look at "object lessons of a place like Sri Lanka today - heavily indebted to China - which has made some really dumb bets about their economic future and are suffering pretty catastrophic, both economic and political consequences as a result."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, "That, I think, ought to be an object lesson to a lot of other players - not just in the Middle East or South Asia, but around the world - about having your eyes wide open about those kinds of dealings."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not the just chief of the US intelligence agency, many experts have said that China's debt trap diplomacy has become a major cause of Sri Lanka's unprecedented economic crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-asks-countries-to-cut-gas-use-to-tackle-russian-blackmail-499302">EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail'</a></strong></p>

<p>China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka and worked closely with former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. A report by The Washington Post highlighted that Beijing has been Sri Lanka's biggest creditor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The credit accounts for some 10 per cent of the country's foreign debt. The communist nation between 2000 and 2020, moreover extended it to close to USD 12 billion in loans to the Sri Lankan government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that in 2017, Sri Lanka was unable to repay a $1.4 billion loan for port construction. It was forced to lease out the facility to a Chinese company for 99 years.&nbsp;</p>

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To what extent China is responsible for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka? Bill Burns, who is the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), on Wednesday (July 20) blamed the "dumb bets" made by the South Asian nation Sri Lanka on China for the ongoing economic crisis.

To what extent China is responsible for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka? Bill Burns, who is the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), on Wednesday (July 20) blamed the "dumb bets" made by the South Asian nation Sri Lanka on China for the ongoing economic crisis. In the past few months, Sri Lanka suffered through food and fuel shortages, lengthy blackouts and galloping inflation as the nation ran out of foreign currency to import vital goods. Now, Burns said that high-debt Chinese investment by Sri Lanka's leaders was one of the major factors that led to the South Asian country's economic collapse. He noted that the Chinese have a lot of weight to throw around and they can make a very appealing case for their investments. ALSO READ | Former India pm Lal Bahadur Shastri's family demands fresh probe into his death As quoted by news agency AFP, Burns told the Aspen Security Forum that all the countries should look at "object lessons of a place like Sri Lanka today - heavily indebted to China - which has made some really dumb bets about their economic future and are suffering pretty catastrophic, both economic and political consequences as a result." He added, "That, I think, ought to be an object lesson to a lot of other players - not just in the Middle East or South Asia, but around the world - about having your eyes wide open about those kinds of dealings." Not the just chief of the US intelligence agency, many experts have said that China's debt trap diplomacy has become a major cause of Sri Lanka's unprecedented economic crisis. ALSO READ | EU asks countries to cut gas use to tackle Russian 'blackmail' China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka and worked closely with former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. A report by The Washington Post highlighted that Beijing has been Sri Lanka's biggest creditor. The credit accounts for some 10 per cent of the country's foreign debt. The communist nation between 2000 and 2020, moreover extended it to close to USD 12 billion in loans to the Sri Lankan government. Reports have mentioned that in 2017, Sri Lanka was unable to repay a $1.4 billion loan for port construction. It was forced to lease out the facility to a Chinese company for 99 years. 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.

CIA chief Bill Burns says Sri Lanka made 'dumb bets' on heavy Chinese investment

Veteran politician Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Sri Lanka's new President on July 21. According to reports, Wickremesinghe is expected to form a cabinet not exceeding 50 members.

'I always opposed Rajapaksas,' says Sri Lanka's newly elected President Ranil Wickremesinghe

The island nation has finally got a new President. Ranil Wickremesinghe has been elected as the 8th executive President of Sri Lanka with 134 votes. The newly elected President says that Sri Lanka is going through a tough situation and we have new challenges ahead.

'Big challenges ahead' says newly elected Sri Lankan Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe

<p>An Indian fishing trawler and six fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka’s Fast Attack Craft force of the Northern Naval Command for illegal fishing in the seas of Mannar, Northern Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>The Sri Lankan Navy claimed that the Wednesday intrusion was the fourth such poaching incident this month.</p>

<p>"The apprehended Indian fishermen and their trawler were brought to Talaimannar and arrangements are currently underway to hand over them to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar," said the statement from the Lankan Navy.</p>

<p>They also claimed that the&nbsp;Sri Lanka Navy has seized and produced four Indian poaching trawlers and 29 Indian fishermen for legal proceedings, in July 2022 alone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Sri Lanka, their navy regularly conducts patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to prevent illegal fishing activities carried out by foreign fishermen in the country's waters. This is being done to protect the livelihood of its own local fishermen and the island nation's marine biodiversity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The apprehended boat belongs to the Rameswaram region in southern Tamil Nadu state. The Indian fishermen claimed that they were fishing in the Indian waters and that the Lankan Navy transgressed into Indian waters before apprehending them.</p>

<p>This comes at a time when Lankan nationals, more than 120 of them, have illegally entered India via the porous sea route that separates India's southern state Tamil Nadu and Lanka's Northern Coast.</p>

<p>Since the economic crisis began to unfold in Sri Lanka in March this year, there has been a steady influx of Lankans from the lower strata of society, into India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India has been at the forefront of providing aid and succour to the crisis-hit island nation, and has thus far offered aid worth over $3.8bn and continues to offer support.</p>

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An Indian fishing trawler and six fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka’s Fast Attack Craft force of the Northern Naval Command for illegal fishing in the seas of Mannar, Northern Sri Lanka.

An Indian fishing trawler and six fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka’s Fast Attack Craft force of the Northern Naval Command for illegal fishing in the seas of Mannar, Northern Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Navy claimed that the Wednesday intrusion was the fourth such poaching incident this month. "The apprehended Indian fishermen and their trawler were brought to Talaimannar and arrangements are currently underway to hand over them to the Fisheries Inspector of Mannar," said the statement from the Lankan Navy. They also claimed that the Sri Lanka Navy has seized and produced four Indian poaching trawlers and 29 Indian fishermen for legal proceedings, in July 2022 alone. According to Sri Lanka, their navy regularly conducts patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to prevent illegal fishing activities carried out by foreign fishermen in the country's waters. This is being done to protect the livelihood of its own local fishermen and the island nation's marine biodiversity. The apprehended boat belongs to the Rameswaram region in southern Tamil Nadu state. The Indian fishermen claimed that they were fishing in the Indian waters and that the Lankan Navy transgressed into Indian waters before apprehending them. This comes at a time when Lankan nationals, more than 120 of them, have illegally entered India via the porous sea route that separates India's southern state Tamil Nadu and Lanka's Northern Coast. Since the economic crisis began to unfold in Sri Lanka in March this year, there has been a steady influx of Lankans from the lower strata of society, into India. India has been at the forefront of providing aid and succour to the crisis-hit island nation, and has thus far offered aid worth over $3.8bn and continues to offer support. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Sri Lankan Navy arrests 6 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing, claims fourth incident in July 

Sri Lanka lawmakers elect six-time former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new president, this decision is more likely to reignite protests in the island nation.

Sri Lanka: Ranil Wickremesinghe elected as 8th President with 134 votes

Sri Lanka gets its new President as Ranil Wickremesinghe, six-time Prime Minister and a veteran politician takes oath today in the Lankan parliament, he has been appointed as the eighth executive President of the islands nation.

Ranil Wickremesinghe takes oath as Sri Lankan President

Ranil Wickremesinghe has been elected as Sri Lanka's new president. Molly Gambhir tells you what comes next as the seasoned Ranil Wickremesinghe inherits the complicated, corrupt and often violent political system.

WION Fineprint | Six-time PM Wickremesinghe wins Sri Lankan presidency

<p>Searches conducted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a drugs&amp; arms smuggling case, has led to the recovery and seizure of gadgets and incriminating documents. The premier agency responsible for investigating terror-related crimes in India had conducted searches across 22 premises said to be linked to a Sri Lankan drug mafia, across the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement from NIA points to serious conspiracy by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Srilankan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Srilankan</a> drug mafia in connection with a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistani?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistani</a> drug &amp; arms supplier<br />
<br />
The objective of these nefarious activities is said to be the revival of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LTTE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LTTE</a><br />
<br />
Searches carried out at 22 locations in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TamilNadu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TamilNadu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NIA</a> <a href="https://t.co/VRkeynHeQg">pic.twitter.com/VRkeynHeQg</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1549798331278565377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai and other districts such as Thiruppur, Chengalpattu and Thiruchirapally were the locations that witnessed searches by the sleuths. According to the NIA, this is said to be in connection with illegal activities of the Sri Lankan drug mafia being operated by C.Gunashekharan and Pushparajah, in association with Haji Salim, a Pakistan-based drugs and arms supplier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"These drugs and arms traffickers have been operating in India and Sri Lanka and working for the revival of LTTE and to further its violent activities", said the agency. The searches are based on a suo motu case that NIA registered in recent weeks. The case was filed under sections that covered serious offences that fall under criminal conspiracy, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act etc.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-coast-guards-big-haul-over-usd-412-million-worth-drugs-5-ak-47rifles-1000-rounds-seized-373189">Indian Coast Guard’s big haul: Over USD 412 million worth drugs, 5 Ak-47rifles, 1,000 rounds seized</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The case is said to be connected to the seizure of Ak-47 rifles and heroin from a Sri Lankan boat off the Kerala coast, in 2021.&nbsp;</p>


Searches conducted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a drugs& arms smuggling case, has led to the recovery and seizure of gadgets and incriminating documents.

Searches conducted by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a drugs& arms smuggling case, has led to the recovery and seizure of gadgets and incriminating documents. The premier agency responsible for investigating terror-related crimes in India had conducted searches across 22 premises said to be linked to a Sri Lankan drug mafia, across the Southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Statement from NIA points to serious conspiracy by #Srilankan drug mafia in connection with a #Pakistani drug & arms supplier The objective of these nefarious activities is said to be the revival of the #LTTE Searches carried out at 22 locations in #TamilNadu #india #NIA pic.twitter.com/VRkeynHeQg — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) July 20, 2022 × Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai and other districts such as Thiruppur, Chengalpattu and Thiruchirapally were the locations that witnessed searches by the sleuths. According to the NIA, this is said to be in connection with illegal activities of the Sri Lankan drug mafia being operated by C.Gunashekharan and Pushparajah, in association with Haji Salim, a Pakistan-based drugs and arms supplier. "These drugs and arms traffickers have been operating in India and Sri Lanka and working for the revival of LTTE and to further its violent activities", said the agency. The searches are based on a suo motu case that NIA registered in recent weeks. The case was filed under sections that covered serious offences that fall under criminal conspiracy, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act etc. ALSO READ | Indian Coast Guard’s big haul: Over USD 412 million worth drugs, 5 Ak-47rifles, 1,000 rounds seized The case is said to be connected to the seizure of Ak-47 rifles and heroin from a Sri Lankan boat off the Kerala coast, in 2021.

India: NIA conducts searches on Sri Lanka-Pak drug & arms mafia operatives

Lankan MPs will be electing the country's next President on July 20. Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe is running for office. It's a three-way race. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Sri Lanka set to elect a new President

<p>Ahead of the presidential elections in Sri Lanka, former cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya on Tuesday (July 19) urged the members of parliament to "choose wisely". The crisis-hit country will vote on Wednesday and choose a president to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled&nbsp;the country as civil&nbsp;unrest intensified after economic crisis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to his official Twitter account, Jayasuriya wrote: "Tomorrow is a vital day. Tomorrow, 225 people decide the fate of 22 million. Choose wisely. Buddhusaranai, Godbless, Mashalla!"&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previously, Jayasuriya said he is both "angry" and "sad" to witness his country grapple with enormous financial crisis and civil unrest. He said, he is expecting that democracy will soon be restored in the Island nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/three-way-fight-will-decide-who-will-be-sri-lankas-next-president-498747">Three-way fight will decide who will be Sri Lanka's next president&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tomorrow is a vital day. Tomorrow 225 people decide the fate of 22 million. Choose wisely. Buddhusaranai, Godbless, Mashalla!</p>
— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sanath07/status/1549425871093522432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis and the people have suffered through months of food and fuel shortages, lengthy blackouts and galloping inflation as the nation ran out of foreign currency to import vital goods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rajapaksa fled abroad last week after his palace was stormed by hundreds of angry protesters&nbsp;demanding&nbsp;that he take responsibility for acute shortages of medicines, food and fuel.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Sri Lanka set to elect a new President&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/shehbaz-sharif-will-become-pm-of-islamabad-imran-khans-party-takes-a-dig-498886">Shehbaz Sharif will become 'PM of Islamabad', Imran Khan's party takes a dig</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>After the presidential vote, the winner of the three-way contest will take charge. Sri Lanka is currently in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is a six-time former prime minister, is said to be the frontrunner,&nbsp;he is despised by protesters who see him as a Rajapaksa ally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe has the backing of the Rajapaksas' Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna&nbsp;(SLPP), which is the largest bloc in the 225-member parliament.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Wickremesinghe's main opponent will be SLPP dissident Dullas Alahapperuma, who is&nbsp;a former journalist being supported by the opposition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alahapperuma pledged this week to form "an actual consensual government for the first time in our history".&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>

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Ahead of the presidential elections in Sri Lanka, former cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya on Tuesday (July 19) urged the members of parliament to "choose wisely".

Ahead of the presidential elections in Sri Lanka, former cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya on Tuesday (July 19) urged the members of parliament to "choose wisely". The crisis-hit country will vote on Wednesday and choose a president to replace Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country as civil unrest intensified after economic crisis. Taking to his official Twitter account, Jayasuriya wrote: "Tomorrow is a vital day. Tomorrow, 225 people decide the fate of 22 million. Choose wisely. Buddhusaranai, Godbless, Mashalla!" Previously, Jayasuriya said he is both "angry" and "sad" to witness his country grapple with enormous financial crisis and civil unrest. He said, he is expecting that democracy will soon be restored in the Island nation. ALSO READ | Three-way fight will decide who will be Sri Lanka's next president Tomorrow is a vital day. Tomorrow 225 people decide the fate of 22 million. Choose wisely. Buddhusaranai, Godbless, Mashalla! — Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) July 19, 2022 × Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis and the people have suffered through months of food and fuel shortages, lengthy blackouts and galloping inflation as the nation ran out of foreign currency to import vital goods. Rajapaksa fled abroad last week after his palace was stormed by hundreds of angry protesters demanding that he take responsibility for acute shortages of medicines, food and fuel. WATCH | Gravitas: Sri Lanka set to elect a new President × ALSO READ | Shehbaz Sharif will become 'PM of Islamabad', Imran Khan's party takes a dig After the presidential vote, the winner of the three-way contest will take charge. Sri Lanka is currently in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Although, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is a six-time former prime minister, is said to be the frontrunner, he is despised by protesters who see him as a Rajapaksa ally. The 73-year-old Wickremesinghe has the backing of the Rajapaksas' Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which is the largest bloc in the 225-member parliament. Wickremesinghe's main opponent will be SLPP dissident Dullas Alahapperuma, who is a former journalist being supported by the opposition. Alahapperuma pledged this week to form "an actual consensual government for the first time in our history". (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.

Sri Lanka economic crisis: Ex-cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya urges MPs to 'choose wisely' to replace prez

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe was on Wednesday elected as Sri Lanka’s new President by Parliament. The new President will have a mandate to serve out the rest of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in November 2024.

Ranil Wickremesinghe elected as Sri Lanka's new President

Sri Lanka Crisis Live Updates: Ranil Wickremesinghe elected as the new President

The 225 Sri Lankan lawmakers have sealed the fate of Presidential post candidates as the voting for electing their new leader has concluded.

225 Sri Lankan lawmakers seal the fate of new Sri Lankan President

Sri Lanka is all set to get its new President today. The 225 parliament members will vote to elect one among the three candidates who filed the nomination yesterday as the country's new leader.

Sri Lanka elections: Wickremesinghe is a part of Rajapaksa clan, protesters oppose acting Prez

Sri Lanka Elections: 225 lawmakers to elect new President

Sri Lanka is all set to get its new President today. The 225 parliament members will vote to elect one among the three candidates who filed the nomination yesterday as the country's new leader. WION's correspondent Dasuni Athauda brings in all the latest information on this.

Sri Lanka Presidential Elections | Clear fight between Wickremesinghe and Alahapperuma: Experts

'Big challenges ahead' says newly elected Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Sri Lanka lawmakers elect six-time former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new president. What key decisions are expected from Ranil Wickremesinghe to fight economic crisis in Sri Lanka?

What key decisions are expected from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to fight economic crisis in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka lawmakers elect six-time former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President. To get more insights on this latest news from the island nation, WION is joined by Jehan Perera, executive director, National Peace council of Sri Lanka.

Ranil Wickremesinghe elected as Lankan President with 134 votes, protesters gather outside office

<p>The stage is set for a three way fight to be the next president of Sri Lanka. The country is facing an unprecedented economic crisis that has seen acute shortage of food, fuel, medicines and more. The country does have an acting President in Ranil Wickremesinghe but parliament needs to select a president who will serve remainder of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The winner will take charge of a bankrupt country that is in talks with the IMF for a bailout as its 22 million people endure severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines.</p>

<p>Sri Lankan parliament on Tuesday (July 19), announced that acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe will face former education minister Dullas Alahapperuma and leftist leader Anura Dissanayake in a secret ballot. Alahapperuma enjoys support from the opposition parties in Sri Lanka. Voting to elect the president is due to take place on July 20.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Sri Lankan Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa withdraws from Presidential election race</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The three were formally nominated by legislators in a session that lasted under 10 minutes at the tightly guarded parliament building.</p>

<p>It was expected that Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa would throw in hat in the fray but he declared on Tuesday morning that he was withdrawing his name from the race.</p>

<p>"For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish, I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of President," Premadasa said on Twitter.</p>

<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sri-lankan-crisis-economy-lessons-india-can-learn-498205">Sri Lankan crisis: Economy lessons India can learn</a></strong></p>

<p>AFP cited political sources to say that Premadasa and Alahapperuma had struck a deal overnight for one to be president and the other prime minister</p>

<p>But Wickremesinghe, 73, a veteran political operator and six times prime minister, has the formal backing of the leadership of the SLPP, which remains the largest party in the 225-member parliament.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The stage is set for a three way fight to be the next president of Sri Lanka. The country is facing an unprecedented economic crisis that has seen acute shortage of food, fuel, medicines and more.

The stage is set for a three way fight to be the next president of Sri Lanka. The country is facing an unprecedented economic crisis that has seen acute shortage of food, fuel, medicines and more. The country does have an acting President in Ranil Wickremesinghe but parliament needs to select a president who will serve remainder of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa's term. The winner will take charge of a bankrupt country that is in talks with the IMF for a bailout as its 22 million people endure severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines. Sri Lankan parliament on Tuesday (July 19), announced that acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe will face former education minister Dullas Alahapperuma and leftist leader Anura Dissanayake in a secret ballot. Alahapperuma enjoys support from the opposition parties in Sri Lanka. Voting to elect the president is due to take place on July 20. Watch | Sri Lankan Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa withdraws from Presidential election race × The three were formally nominated by legislators in a session that lasted under 10 minutes at the tightly guarded parliament building. It was expected that Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa would throw in hat in the fray but he declared on Tuesday morning that he was withdrawing his name from the race. "For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish, I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of President," Premadasa said on Twitter. Read | Sri Lankan crisis: Economy lessons India can learn AFP cited political sources to say that Premadasa and Alahapperuma had struck a deal overnight for one to be president and the other prime minister But Wickremesinghe, 73, a veteran political operator and six times prime minister, has the formal backing of the leadership of the SLPP, which remains the largest party in the 225-member parliament. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Three-way fight will decide who will be Sri Lanka's next president

Sri Lanka opposition leader Sajith Premadasa withdrew on Tuesday from the race to become president of the island nation, in order to support a rival candidate.

Sri Lankan Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa withdraws from Presidential election race

The countdown to electing the new Sri Lankan President has now begun. The Sri Lankan parliament is set to vote for a new leader on the 20 July.

Sri Lanka: Four candidates in presidential race to file nomination

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Three-way fight will decide who will be Sri Lanka's next president

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