Presidential elections in Sri Lanka will be held from September 17 to October 16, the country’s highest electoral body announced on Thursday.
According to local media reports, the Election Commission, in a notification signed by RMAL Chairman Ratnayake, said it would invite candidates to hold presidential elections within the specified period in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. According to the newspaper, the presidential election will be held from September 17th to October 16th.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe plans to contest the presidential election under a new symbol, his aides said last month.
Wickremesinghe replaced Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in May 2022 following anti-government protests over the island nation’s unprecedented economic crisis. Two months later, he replaced Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president, serving the remainder of his term until the end of 2024.
Wickremesinghe, 75, will represent multiple political parties as the national candidate, senior presidential adviser and UNP senior leader Ashu Marasinghe announced last month.
A veteran politician, he has led the United National Party (UNP) since 1994. He has served as prime minister five times and led six governments.
President Wickremesinghe may face a direct confrontation with his cabinet colleague Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, who is currently the Minister of Justice.
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) leader and former President Maithripala Sirisena recently said that Mr. Rajapakse, 65, would be the party’s candidate in the presidential election.
