Colombo: Sri Lanka to face the Presidential election today. The new president will take over the position with an aim of saving the nation from the ongoing financial crisis.
After 44 years, the parliament now faces direct elections. There are 3 contestants in the fray and the election will take place through secret ballots.
The election is taking place in the background of receiving the willingness of resignation by the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The country has been facing a huge financial crisis and scarcity of food, fuel and medicines.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the acting president, Dullas Alahaperuma, the ruling party’s dissident leader, and Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, leader of the left-wing Janata Vimukti Peramuna (JVP), are contesting in the elections.
Majority of the ruling SLPP (Sri Lanka Pothujana Perumana ) party members, have suggested the name of their leader Alahapperuma to the position of the president and the major opposition party member Sajith Premadasa to the position of the PM. It is found that though Vikramasingha has chances to lead , he cannot win the seat without the support of SSLP.
Meanwhile, the acting president Ranil Vikramasigha has issued an emergency in the country. He said that the police cannot provide security to the life and properties of the people and it is necessary to hand over the power to the military forces and hence declare an emergency. Opposition has come forward with strong protests against this action.
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