Sri Lanka is at a turning point: will the presidential election bring about real political change? The economic situation has improved slightly under the interim president, but not everyone is convinced.
Hundreds of people gathered late Wednesday evening on the square in a residential area in Colombo and looked at the stage. Some held up posters with their candidate: Ranil Wickremesinghe. The 75-year-old was a member of the liberal-conservative United National Party for many years. After the protests two years ago, he has led Sri Lanka as interim president until now. Now Wickremesinghe is running as an independent candidate.
The election rallies were allowed to continue until midnight on Wednesday. It was also important for Isuru Hewage to show his support once again that evening. The 31-year-old has studied, but he cannot find a job and is keeping himself afloat by giving private lessons.
He hopes that Wickremesinghe will win the election: “We need to find a leader who can solve the country’s current economic problems.”
Protests two years ago
Two years ago, he himself took to the streets together with thousands of people. Sri Lanka had years of mismanagement behind it, was heavily in debt and was on the verge of economic collapse. Inflation shot up to 70 percent.
Many had to use up their savings and sell their jewelry to make ends meet. Food suddenly became extremely expensive, people had to queue for days for gasoline and gas for cooking. Medicines became scarce. There were constant power outages.
In the end, the demonstrators stormed the residence of then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and jumped into the pool – the images went around the world. The president fled into exile.
International rescue package
The economic situation has now improved somewhat – made possible by an aid package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth almost three billion US dollars. Prices have fallen, but are still high. Wickremesinghe has taken the right measures, says Isuru Hewage: “The situation has remained stable over the last two years. This was achieved through the right management, and my life has improved as a result.”
Mood against the elite
But at the counter rally by Sajith Premadasa, the candidate of the largest opposition party SJB, a different tone can be heard. Marketing entrepreneur Roshan de Saram listened carefully to both speeches. For him, Wickremesinghe is part of the old system and the country’s corrupt elite. The social democrat Premadasa, on the other hand, is committed to the middle class and wants to reduce taxes.
“I would definitely vote for someone who would drive my business goals and help me to be successful,” says de Saram, adding: “If I find an unpredictable economic situation in Sri Lanka and cannot grow, then I will look for an overseas market.”
The 51-year-old consciously decided to stay in Sri Lanka. But his children have international qualifications and see no professional prospects in their homeland. They want to go abroad. Many young people work in the Emirates or in Europe. And politicians must do something about this.
Close election result expected
According to polls, many voters are still undecided. Some expect a neck-and-neck race between Premadasa and the candidate of the Marxist NPP party, Anura Dissanayake. Another candidate, however, is not considered to have a chance: Namal Rajapaksa, nephew of the resigned President Gotabaya.
For most voters, the economic situation is the main factor in their decision, says Bhavani Fonseka of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent think tank. “The International Monetary Fund’s rescue package covers various areas. And many people have felt the effects of this – for example through higher taxes.”
For example, many people saw that Wickremesinghe had introduced strict austerity measures. “And that met with great resistance. The opposition, on the other hand, is promising to improve things.”
Economic Reforms necessary
Fonseka believes that the biggest challenge for the next government of Sri Lanka will be economic reform in the indebted country. He also believes that corruption must be fought and genuine reconciliation must be achieved 15 years after the end of the civil war.
For human rights activist Jehan Perera, the election is also primarily about rebuilding the economy. “These are crucial elections with high expectations, anticipation but also tension, because Sri Lanka has a big choice between continuity and change – and that could be radical.” People have lost their trust in the political elite. And that must now be restored.
Around 17 million people are eligible to vote in Sri Lanka. The election result is expected during the course of Sunday.