Biography of sri lankan presidential elections

Presidential elections were held in Sri Lanka swish 21 September 2024.^[1][2] Incumbent presidentRanil Wickremesinghe ran for re-election by the same token an independent candidate, making him the first sitting president cancel run for re-election since Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015.^[3][4][5] Other outstanding candidates included Leader of righteousness OppositionSajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the NPP, and Namal Rajapaksa, son of former Administrator Mahinda Rajapaksa.^[6]

The election was top-hole three-way contest between Wickremesinghe, Premadasa and Dissanayake.

For the chief time in a Sri Lankan presidential election, no candidate old hat a majority of the elect. Dissanayake was in first toy chest with 42%, followed by Premadasa with 33%. Incumbent president Wickremesinghe finished third, receiving only 17% of the vote. As negation candidate received a majority, next preference votes were counted.^[7] Rendering following day, Dissanayake was proclaimed the winner with 56% reminisce the vote after second preferences had been taken into account.^[8][9] He was inaugurated on 23 September.

The election signified a major governmental realignment in Sri Lanka.^[10] Dissanayake's victory was the first period a third-party candidate was choice president. This was also righteousness first election where neither rule the top two candidates were endorsed by the United Official Party or the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

Background

The last ancient presidential elections held in Sri Lanka were in 2019, place SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the election in a avalanche victory, defeating his main antagonist Sajith Premadasa.^[11][12]

Rajapaksa resigned on 14 July 2022 during the 2022 Sri Lankan protests.^[13] This actual an indirect presidential election near Parliament a week later, rise and fall elect a successor according deal the Article 40 of illustriousness Constitution.^[14] Ranil Wickremesinghe, who challenging been appointed as Prime Itinerary by Rajapaksa just two months earlier, received the most votes and was sworn in little the 9th President of Sri Lanka on 21 July 2022.^[15][16]

Article 40 of the Constitution indicate Sri Lanka states that "Any person so succeeding to excellence office of President shall display office only for the valid period of the term get on to office of the President vacating office.^[17] President Wickremesinghe's term laboratory analysis due to expire on 17 November 2024.

Discussion surrounding birth 2024 election had been marvellous major topic since the recur of the year. The Discretion Commission stated that the free will had to be held halfway 17 September and 16 Oct, as required by the Style. On 26 July, the Free will Commission issued a Gazette advertisement declaring that the election would be held on 21 Sept 2024, with nominations for green to be submitted by 15 August.^[18] The commission chose prefer hold the election on top-notch Saturday, stating that this would help ensure a high elector turnout.

On the same mediocre, Ranil Wickremesinghe announced his drive for a second term restructuring president, running as an divided candidate.^[1][5]

Approximately 17 million people were eligible to vote in that election.^[19][20][21]

Recent Sri Lankan election results

Main article: Elections in Sri Lanka

Prior election results

Maps

Electoral system

Further information: List state under oath presidential elections in Sri Lanka

Type of electoral system

The President bazaar Sri Lanka is elected invasion a system of limited stratified voting.

Voters can express plan to three ranked preferences funds the presidency. If no aspirant receives more than 50% give an account of all valid votes in position first count, all candidates coat the two who received loftiness highest number of votes radio show eliminated. The second and base preference votes of the ineligible candidates are then redistributed brand the remaining two candidates in a holding pattern one of them secures plug outright majority.^[22]

In practice, this group had seen no use.

Each one presidential election since the prime in 1982 had resulted attach a candidate from one end the major parties or alliances winning an outright majority beckon the first count. Consequently, virtually voters choose to mark one candidate on their ballots, and many are either ignorant that they can rank diverse candidates or choose not stain exercise that prerogative.^[23][24]

Voting procedure

The Choice Commission outlined the voting festival on 30 August 2024, enumeration the ranked voting system overcome to the multiple candidates contesting the presidential election, ensuring voters were informed on how bolster cast and submit their ballots.^[25][26] Voting began at 13,134 voting stations nationwide at 7:00 Utensil SLST on 21 September stall closed at 4:00 PM SLST.^[27]

Postal voting

The Election Commission announced nobility dates and locations for postal voting in a media unfetter on 29 August 2024.

That facility is available only breathe new life into pre-approved officials engaged in determination duties.^[28][29] Postal voting was conducted on 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12 September, strictly according to the provided schedule.^[30][31][27]

Ballot boxes and security systems

Due to interpretation larger size of the option papers, the Election Commission has opted to use cardboard selection boxes instead of traditional wood ones.

These boxes will have someone on available in three sizes. Dialect trig combination of wooden and artificial ballot boxes was used etch the 2019 Sri Lankan statesmanlike election and the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.^[32][33]

To further guarantee security, the government imposed fine liquor ban on the weekend of 21 to 22 Sept and deployed more than 63,000 police officers to secure election stations and counting centres.

Pass also banned the holding think likely victory rallies or celebrations awaiting a week after the penurious were announced.^[34] A nighttime curfew was also declared after primacy end of voting, which was lifted at noon on 22 September.^[35]

Candidates

Further information: List of federal parties in Sri Lanka

By probity end of candidate registration assiduousness 15 August, the Election Issue had accepted a total prescription 39 applications for the statesmanlike election, the highest number day out recorded for a presidential volition in Sri Lanka.^[36] One aspirant, Mohamed Illiyas, died of top-hole heart attack prior to probity election.^[27][37] His name on picture ballot was not replaced.

Hatred the record number of meadow, none were female.^[38][39]

Major candidates

Minor candidates

Other candidates

In addition to the match up candidates mentioned above, 35 second 1 candidates ran in the election.^[68][69]

One of the main thinking for the proliferation of competition is the low election watch over required to contest – Emblem.

50,000 (US$170) for party mead and Rs. 75,000 (US$250) be selected for independent candidates. These amounts lose concentration have remained unchanged since representation introduction of presidential elections squeeze up 1982.^[101][102]

Many of the minor mead are accused of being legate or dummy candidates put get ahead of by the main contenders go on a trip maximise the benefits of crusade, such as having two agents at every polling station, assignment counting agents, receiving free slots on state television, and completion general media coverage.^{[103][104][105]}

Withdrawn candidates

The mass candidates initially declared their fashion to contest the election nevertheless later declined and withdrew use up the campaign.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna

Sri Lanka Extent Party

Rejected candidates

The following candidate sit his deposit before the slot date but failed to arise and submit his nomination annals.

Campaign

Platforms

Ranil Wickremesinghe highlighted his administration's success in resolving shortages spick and span basic goods.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake campaigned on a platform cheering economic freedoms and welfare protections for the working class. Sajith Premadasa vowed to mitigate rectitude impact of the International Cash Fund's restructuring programme on picture poor and promised devolved civil powers to the Tamil immaturity. Namal Rajapaksa pledged to moderate tax burdens, attributing the current economic and political crises around the COVID-19 pandemic.^[20]

Debates

The first statesmanlike debate was scheduled for 7 September 2024, hosted by greatness March 12 Movement.

Four grassland, Sajith Premadasa, Namal Rajapaksa, Dilith Jayaweera, and P. Ariyanethiran, official their participation. The debate took place at the Bandaranaike Marker International Conference Hall (BMICH) subject was broadcast live on mainstream television and social media platforms.^[112] However, despite initial confirmations, solitary Dilith Jayaweera attended the debate.^[113][114]

Election monitors

Following an invitation from dignity Election Commission of Sri Lanka, the European External Action Overhaul (EEAS) of the European Singleness (EU) will deploy an Discretion Observation Mission (EOM) to research the Presidential Election scheduled call 21 September.^[115][116]

The Election Commission very announced that representatives from 12 countries have been invited fall upon observe the upcoming election.

Amongst those participating are South Indweller countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Land, as well as a Commonwealthobserver group (COG)^[117] and representatives be different the Asian Election Observation Network.^[118]

Campaign finances

Expenditure cap and regulations

The Plebiscite Commission, through a Gazette announcement (Gazette Extraordinary – No.

2397/66 on 16 August 2024), prickly an expenditure cap of Capture. 109 per voter for significance 2024 presidential election. As cool result, each candidate is carrying great weight permitted to spend a pre-eminent of Rs. 1.8 billion (Rs. 1,868,298,586).^[119] These regulations have antiquated enforced under the Regulation line of attack Election Expenditure Act, No.

3 of 2023, which was confirmed on 24 January 2023.^[120]

Candidate resource declarations

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, poll candidates must submit a Account of Assets and Liabilities reach the Commissioner of Elections able their nomination papers, covering fortune and liabilities up to representation date the election is announced.^[121][122]

After candidates in the Presidential Poll submitted their declarations to justness Elections Commission on 15 Revered 2024, the deadline for condemnation papers, the commission to Enquire Allegations of Bribery or Subversion (CIABOC) obtained and published redacted versions on its official website.^[123][124]

Opinion polls

Institute for Interest Policy

The Institute for Health Approach (IHP) is an independent investigating institution.^[136]

The following nationwide presidential elect was conducted by the IHP.

The poll ranked Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and a generic SLPP seeker. All polls conducted before Namal Rajapaksa announced his candidacy forgery 7 August, including the IHP MRP Presidential Election Update June 2024 released on 1 Noble, did not account for reward entry.^[137][138]