Race for Sri Lankan presidency will be tight

Significance

The timing of the poll is in line with constitutional requirements. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has confirmed that he will seek another term. His main challengers look set to be Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa, currently leader of the opposition, and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) chief Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Impacts

• Sinhalese Buddhist nationalism will play a lesser role in this election as voters pay more attention to economic matters.
• Wickremesinghe may look to ensure an increase in public-sector employment and wages in a bid to improve his chances of victory.
• The election will weaken the Rajapaksa family, which has dominated the country’s politics for most of the past two decades.