In Sri Lanka’s 3-way presidential race, the economy and minority rights take centre stage

Among the 38 candidates vying for the presidency, the most prominent figures include incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is running independently; Sajith Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya; Anura Kumara Dissanayake from National People’s Power; and Namal Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka People’s Front.

Analysts predict that the race will narrow to just Wickremesinghe, Dissanayake, and Premadasa, though some believe it will be a direct contest between the latter two.

Bhavani Fonseka, a lawyer and senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, a Colombo-based think tank, views the election as a critical moment for voters seeking a leader who can not only drive economic recovery but also address pressing issues of crime and corruption. Members of the country’s ethnic minority groups are particularly focused on finding a “political solution and reconciliation”, she said.