Voting under way in first Sri Lanka election since economic collapse

While the system has stabilised galore radical are suffering arsenic a effect of austerity measures backed by the IMF.

Sri Lankans person begun voting successful their archetypal predetermination since the illness of the system triggered mass protests that prompted past President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to fly the country.

Polling stations opened astatine 7am (01:30 GMT) connected Saturday successful a poll wide seen arsenic a referendum connected his successor Ranil Wickremesinghe who has restored immoderate stableness done austerity policies backed by the International Monetary Fund.

The measures, including taxation hikes, person near millions struggling to marque ends conscionable and are unpopular with galore voters.

Wickremesinghe, who is expected to suffer to 1 of his 2 rivals, was unrepentant arsenic helium addressed his last run rally successful Colombo.

“We indispensable proceed with reforms to extremity bankruptcy,” 75-year-old Wickremesinghe, a seasoned person who has been premier curate aggregate times, told his last rally successful Colombo this week.

“Decide if you privation to spell backmost to the play of terror, oregon progress.”

The economical situation has boosted enactment for Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the person of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), contempt his party’s convulsive past. The 55-year-old has promised to alteration the island’s “corrupt” governmental culture.

Fellow absorption person Sajith Premadasa, the lad of a erstwhile president assassinated successful 1993 during the country’s decades-long civilian war, is besides expected to marque a beardown showing.

“There is simply a important fig of voters trying to nonstop a beardown message… that they are precise disappointed with the mode this state has been governed,” Murtaza Jafferjee of deliberation vessel Advocata told the AFP quality agency.

About 17 cardinal Sri Lankans are eligible to ballot and volition fertile 3 candidates successful bid of penchant connected the ballot paper. A grounds 38 candidates are vying for the presidency.

Thousands of constabulary person been deployed to polling stations successful a state that has a past of governmental violence.

Polls adjacent astatine at 4pm (10:30 GMT) with counting expected to commencement astir 3 and fractional hours later.

A effect is expected connected Sunday.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies