Presidential elections will be held in Sri Lanka between 17 September and 16 October

Sri Lanka will hold presidential elections between September 17 and October 16 this year. The country’s top election body announced this on Thursday. According to reports published in the local media, a notification signed by the Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka R M A L Ratnayake said that the commission will seek nominations to hold the presidential election within the time limit specified in terms of the provisions of the Constitution. It said that the presidential election will be held sometime between September 17 and October 16.

Ranil Wickremesinghe may enter the fray

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s top aide said last month that he may enter the fray to contest the presidential election. Wickremesinghe replaced Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in May 2022 following anti-government protests over the unprecedented economic crisis in the country. Two months later, he replaced Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president for the remainder of his term until the end of 2024.

Wickremesinghe is experienced

Senior presidential adviser and senior United National Party (UNP) leader Ashu Marasinghe said last month that 75-year-old Wickremesinghe would represent several parties as a national candidate. The veteran politician has led the United National Party (UNP) since 1994. He has held the post of prime minister five times and led six governments.

May face competition from Vijayadas Rajapaksa

In the presidential election, Wickremesinghe may face competition from the current Justice Minister K Vijayadas Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) chairman and former president Maithripala Sirisena recently said that 65-year-old Rajapaksa would be his party’s candidate in the presidential election.