Sri Lankans will vote on Saturday for a new president, a decision that will be crucial in determining future reforms in a country grappling with an unprecedented economic crisis.
More than 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to vote for their next president, who will serve a five-year term.
Who all are nominated?
Sri Lanka’s election panel has approved the nomination of 39 candidates, including incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe. One candidate later died. The front-runners include National People’s Power Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya party.
How did the candidates campaign?
Incumbent President Wickremesinghe held his first rally in the historic city of Anuradhapura on August 17. It was the first of about 100 rallies he will address. His main rivals also held about a dozen rallies.
The election campaign ended at midnight on Wednesday, 48 hours before the election.
What is the election process?
Sri Lanka follows a first-past-the-post system, under which voters can choose up to three candidates. The candidate who receives at least 50% or more of the total votes is declared the winner.
If no candidate gets 50% of the votes in the first round, there is a legal provision for a second round between the two leading candidates. Given the close contest, a second vote count could be held for the first time in four decades since the introduction of the voting system in Sri Lanka.
How will the votes be counted?
Sri Lankans will cast their votes at thousands of polling stations amid tight security. Government employees will then count the votes under the supervision of Election Commission officials, election observers and representatives of the candidates.
Voting will begin at 7 a.m. local time and end at 4 p.m. Counting of votes will begin immediately after.
When will the results be announced?
The Election Commission will formally declare the winner, likely on Sunday. The swearing-in ceremony usually takes place on the same day.