Sri Lanka began voting in a snap election on Thursday which will determine if the island nation wants to empower its new, leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to push his pro-poor policies as it recovers from a financial meltdown.
A little over 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term. A record 690 political parties and independent groups are in the fray across 22 electoral districts.
Marxist-leaning Dissanayake, 55, was elected president in September but his National People’s Power (NPP) coalition had just three of 225 seats in parliament, prompting him to dissolve the legislature almost a year before its term ended and seek a fresh mandate.
Over 7,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections at the more than 13,400 polling stations set up across the country, police officers told Reuters.
“The military is also on standby to assist the police but we do not expect any incidents,” said Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa, adding that voting was proceeding smoothly.
As polling opened in the early hours of the morning, people began trickling into temples, schools and other public buildings being used as polling stations.
“I think we are seeing the first signs of a positive political change in Sri Lanka after the president was elected and we should give him the chance to continue that change,” she
said.
Analysts say Dissanayake’s coalition is expected to draw significant support, while a victory for a rival could lead to a policy logjam the country cannot afford.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya party of opposition leader Sajith Premadasa – who favours a mix of interventionist and free-market economic policies – is NPP’s main challenger. The other key contender is the New Democratic Front, backed by previous President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“All arrangements are in place and we appeal to the public to work with us to ensure a free and fair election,” Election Commission Chairman R M L Rathnayake told reporters at a pre-election briefing on Tuesday.
Votes will be counted soon after polling closes on Thursday and results are expected to be announced on Friday.
With Reuters inputs
