Let the contest begin

After weeks of speculation the Election Commission announced dates for the Presidential election yesterday. It will be held on 21 September with nominations scheduled 15 August. The deposit to contest the election as an independent candidate was made on behalf of President Ranil Wickremesinghe by his lawyers last morning putting an end to the speculation whether he will contest or not. In the next few days, it will be clear as to whose support he can count on as his campaign begins. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has said it will announce who its candidature is on Monday while other alliances may be formed with the election day now confirmed. 

For the first time in the country’s history since 1977, there seems to be a strong three-way contest for the presidency. Along with the incumbent president, the main opposition SJB leader Sajith Premadasa as well as the NPP/JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake are strong contenders for the top job in the country. Premadasa and Dissanayake have been in campaign mode for over a year now, first in anticipation of the Local Government elections and later in the build-up to the Presidential election. The President on his part had kept everyone guessing on his intentions till now. 

Two other contenders, namely MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe have also thrown in the hat to the presidential race, Weather they will run the full race or drop out halfway is yet to be seen but their participation will no doubt make the contests more colourful. There will also be several other also rans who will hand over nominations as is the usual case.

This will be the ninth presidential election to be held in the country. The first election was in 1982 when J.R. Jayewardene, the man who introduced the executive presidency to the country was elected to office with over 52% of the votes cast. 

The main issues that the candidates contesting the election will have is to address the cost-of-living problem that continues to be the biggest burden to the public. Many are barely making ends meet, burdened by high cost of goods and services and continue to suffer due to the economic crisis in the county. Corruption is also an issue that the opposition has campaigned heavily on, and this issue too will be on the voters’ minds.

Presidential elections are also a clash of personalities and the incumbent being a seasoned politician is up against Sajith Premadasa who too has held several ministerial posts during his political career while Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who, except for a brief period as a minister during a government of co-existence with Chandrika Kumaratunga, has mostly been a frontline parliamentarian.

Voters are divided at present with many of the younger voters seeking a break with the old order and a fresh start for the country with a brand-new leader. They are largely focusing on Dissanayake to give leadership. Premadasa too has drawn support from a cross section of society who feel he has the necessary experience and ability to take the country forward with many nostalgic for the days of his father Ranasinghe Premadasa, who spearheaded many popular rural development programs and made Government institutions more efficient. The current President has won over many of his detractors in the past two years since taking office. He has won praise mainly for his role in pulling the country out of the worst economic crisis it had fallen into and wanting the continuation in his policies.

Ahead is eight weeks of serious campaigning by all sides and on 22 September, 2024 the country will know who the majority have elected as the new president. Till then candidates and their supporters should focus on an issue-based campaign so that the voters will have a clear idea what they’re voting for.