In a bid to maintain peace and order following Sri Lanka’s presidential election, a curfew has been enforced. The curfew will last from 10 PM tonight until 6 AM on Sunday, as announced by the local police. This decision was taken by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who additionally issued a gazette declaring the curfew amidst ongoing vote counting. At the moment, the results of the election have yet to be declared.
Voter Turnout and Election Context
The presidential election has garnered significant participation, with an estimated voter turnout of around 75%. According to Elections Director General Saman Sri Ratnayak, while this turnout is relatively robust, it marks a decline from the 83% participation observed in the previous presidential election held in November 2019.
Candidates and Voting Process
This election featured an unprecedented number of candidates, with 38 individuals vying for the presidency. Voters cast their ballots from 7 AM to 4 PM local time at over 13,400 polling stations spread across 22 electoral districts. The election was anticipated to engage more than 17 million registered voters, underscoring the democratic involvement of citizens.
Security and Observations
Following the economic turmoil of 2022, this election is particularly significant. Fortunately, reports indicate that the voting proceeded smoothly, with no incidents of violence or security threats reported across any of the electoral districts.
Deployment of Election Observers
To ensure transparency and fairness, approximately 8,000 local and international election observers were deployed. This included 116 observers from the European Union, various Commonwealth nations, and the ‘Asian Network for Free Elections.’ Notably, seven observers also came from South Asian countries. The leading local organization, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), contributed significantly to this effort by sending out 4,000 local observers.
A Critical Test for Leadership
This presidential election is perceived as a crucial test for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership, particularly as he has vowed to restore the nation’s economy following its recent crisis. The outcome of this election will likely have lasting implications for the political landscape of Sri Lanka as the nation navigates its recovery.
