As we approach Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 21 September, Tamil Guardian takes a closer look at the leading candidates ahead of Saturday's polls.

As we approach Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 21 September, Tamil Guardian takes a closer look at the leading candidates ahead of Saturday's polls.

Ranil Wickremesinghe

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka’s current President and leader of the United National Party, has served as Prime Minister from 1993 to 1994, 2001 to 2004, 2015 to 2015, 2015 to 2018, and 2018 to 2019. In the midst of the Aragayala protests of 2022, which saw the ousting of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he was appointed Prime Minister and subsequent to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation, he assumed the presidency, despite holding but a single seat in Sri Lanka’s parliament.

Sajith Premadasa, whose father Ranasinghe Premadasa had previously served as head of the United National Party (UNP) and had served in the roles of president and prime minister, is the leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

Yesterday, ahead of Sri Lanka’s presidential election, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Basil Rajapaksa, reportedly left for the United States for “medical purposes”.

He is said to have boarded the Emirates Airline flight EK 659 fom Katunayake Bandaranike International Airport at 3.05 AM to Dubai and will board a separate flight to America.

According to the party’s General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam;

At least five separate murders have taken place in the Colombo area of the last day, as gun violence increased around Sri Lanka’s capital in the run up to the presidential election.

There were at least five separate shootings, all of which resulted in the deaths of those targeted by unidentified assailants.

Sri Lanka’s presidential election could mark a significant milestone, as it might be the first time in history that a single candidate does not secure over 50% of the popular vote.

If so, it could make the outcome of the polls dependent on preferential voting, something that has never happened before on the island.

The Preferential Voting System Explained

Responding to a letter by Sri Lankan Police warning of deaths threats against the Tamil presidential candidate Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran, Tamil lawmaker MA Sumanthiran lashed out against the police and called on Ariyanenthiran to step down from his campaign.