Voter turnout in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Saturday reached approximately 75 per cent, as reported by Director General Elections Saman Sri Ratnayaka. This turnout is lower than the 83 per cent recorded in the November 2019 presidential election.
Polling ran from 7am to 4pm local time at over 13,400 stations across 22 electoral districts. Over 17 million registered voters were anticipated to participate in an election featuring 38 candidates, the highest number ever.
Earlier, officials confirmed that polling ended without incidents of violence or security breaches across all districts. Those inside polling stations by 4pm were permitted to vote past the deadline. Postal vote counting started immediately after the polls closed at 4pm, with postal votes mainly cast by government employees, military, and police personnel four days earlier.
Regular vote counting was set to commence at 6pm, according to Colombo City Deputy Election Commissioner MKSKK Bandaramapa.
Going by the postal votes so far in #SLElection2024 it looks like a landslide victory for @anuradisanayake which is great. And the icing on the cake @RW_SRILANKA will be sent to retirement. The disappointing part is the North is out of sync. pic.twitter.com/xDTekZslSH
— Mahesan Niranjan (@MahesanNiranjan) September 21, 2024
Nearly 8,000 observers, including 116 international monitors from the EU, Commonwealth, and Asian election networks, oversaw the election. The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections, a prominent local group, deployed 4,000 observers. This election is crucial for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been credited with steering the nation towards economic recovery following its severe economic crisis in 2022.
The 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election features four key candidates. Ranil Wickremesinghe, an independent (UNP) and the current president, remains focused on his economic policies.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, from National People’s Power (NPP), is campaigning on an anti-corruption platform with a strong focus on social justice.
Sajith Premadasa, from Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), leads the opposition and prioritises tax reforms and better living standards for the poor.
Namal Rajapaksa, representing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), emphasises national security and economic growth, continuing his family’s political legacy.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Hindu reports on the Sri Lankan presidential election, highlighting a crucial three-cornered race between incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, with economic recovery as the central issue. (Read more)
- Moneycontrol reports a 75% voter turnout in Sri Lanka’s presidential polls, counting ongoing amid an overnight curfew, reflecting citizens’ urgency to address economic recovery and hardship. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What was the voter turnout in the latest Sri Lanka presidential election?
The voter turnout was around 75 per cent.
How does the latest voter turnout compare to the previous presidential election?
The latest turnout is lower than the 83 per cent in the 2019 election.
Were there any reports of violence during the Sri Lanka presidential election?
No, there were no reports of violence or security breaches.
How many candidates participated in the latest presidential election in Sri Lanka?
There were 38 candidates in the fray.
When did the counting of postal votes begin?
The counting of postal votes began immediately after voting closed at 4pm.
