Finance
Sri Lanka, India’s neighbor, will pick a new president on Saturday, the island nation’s first election since its economic collapse in 2022.
As many as 38 candidates are running for the top job in an election that will be closely watched by India and China because the island nation is strategically important to both countries.
India, which has longstanding connections with Sri Lanka, is concerned about China’s expanding influence over the small country in its region.
Polls in Sri Lanka opened at 7 a.m. (local time) and will close at 4 p.m.
The counting of votes will begin shortly after, with the results scheduled to be announced on Sunday.
Approximately 17 million people will vote to elect their 10th President.
The primary issues that have taken precedence in recent polls are mostly economic in nature, as people struggle with inflation, food and fuel shortages.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is seeking re-election, is the frontrunner in the race for the top job, but he faces stiff competition from two other political heavyweights: Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna’s candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was leading opinion polls ahead of Saturday’s election, and Sajith Premadasa, the son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa and the chief of the main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Who becomes Sri Lanka’s next President will be important to New Delhi, which is anxious about Beijing’s growing influence in a country that had previously been a strong friend of India until its economic troubles forced it into China’s debt economy trap.
Out of all the presidential candidates running today, Sajith Premadasa has been the most critical of Beijing’s expanding influence and participation in Sri Lanka.
The two most powerful countries in the region are battling for a foothold in the island nation because of its strategic location for trade and military activities, and who leads this key country is vital for both neighbors.
Source:IANS
