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PremiumSri Lanka elections result 2024 Highlights: Left-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake became the President of Sri Lanka on Sunday following a historic run-off election. The National People’s Power leader defeated his closest rival Sajith Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya during the second round of counting. Incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe had been eliminated in the first round after he failed to become within the top two in the vote list.
Sri Lankans went to the polls on Saturday to elect the nation’s 10th president, marking the first election since the devastating 2022 economic crisis that led to a loan default. Turnout was at nearly 70 percent an hour before polling stations closed at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT), an election commission official said, citing provisional figures.
Counting to the Sri Lanka elections to declare the 10th President of the nation of 22 million people began at 6 pm.
The Election Commission had ordered a second round of counting after no candidate secured over 50% votes needed to be declared the winner of Saturday's election. No poll in Sri Lanka had ever progressed to the second round of counting until now — with a single candidates always emerging as clear winners based on first-preference votes.
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Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Incumbent Ranil Wickeremsinghe was trailing way behind with 235,000 votes at 16 per cent.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: In the cumulative vote count declared by 7 am on Sunday, left-leaning Dissanayake had garnered 727,000 votes or 52 per cent against his nearest rival 57-year-old Sajith Premadasa, the main opposition leader who received 333,000 votes at 23 per cent.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Ranil Wickremesinghe, the current president, took office after Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s resignation. He contested as an independent candidate this time. After filling Gotabaya Rajapaksa's shoes, Wickremesinghe faced flak for his unpopular austerity measures. Most of the experts see his measures as a way to tackle the problem in long-term while the country requires decisions for the instant relief from people struggles.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Despite a clear majority to Dissanayaka in the ongoing vote counting, Wickremesinghe has yet to concede, and an official result was not expected until later Sunday, but foreign minister Ali Sabry said the early count made it clear that Dissanayaka had won.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The massive reduction in votes to Ranil Wickremesinghe indicated his failure to regain confidence of the public as he sought re-election to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages during Sri Lanka's economic meltdown.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Amid the nation's economic turmoil, Dissanayaka, witnessed a surge in support based on his pledge to change the island's "corrupt" political culture.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Amid the ongoing vote counting in the country, the Sri Lankan Government declared Monday to be a special public holiday.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Namal Rajapaksa, is currently on the fourth position on the top 5 Presidential candidates leading in the vote counting. Ahead of the vote counting, Rajapaksa, shared a post on X, urging people to vote in large numbers.
“We just cast our votes! Your turn now--get out there and make your voice heard. Every vote matters for the future of Sri Lanka! #GoVote," he wrote in a social media post.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Dissayanka's once-marginal Marxist party saw two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s. The two incidents left more than 80,000 people dead. Interestingly his party didn't even manage to win four percent vote in the recent parliamentary elections held in August 2020.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Several politicians and supporter of former President have declared Anura Kumara Dissanayake as winner.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, a close ally of Wickremesinghe, said Dissanayaka had won, reported AFP.
"After a long and arduous campaign, the results of the election are now clear," Sabry said on X.
“Though I heavily campaigned for President Ranil Wickremasinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision, and I fully respect their mandate for Anura Kumara Dissanayaka."
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The counting of postal ballots began after 4 p.m. local time. The Election Commission of Sri Lanka said that it may begin releasing the results by early midnight and the next president of the country will be announced on Sunday. However, there could be a possible delay in case of uncertain result.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is known for his pro-Marxist stance, is leading in the race, followed by Sajith Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Namal Rajapaksa, Dilith Jayaweera
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently on the third position trailing behind Marxist-leaning Dissanayake who won about 54% of half a million votes counted so far in the election, and Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa was second with 20%
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The winner of the Sri Lanka Presidential elections will have the onus to take the country out of economic turmoil and make sure that the country sticks with the IMF programme until 2027 to get its economy on a stable growth path, reassure markets, repay debt, attract investors and help a quarter of its people climb out of poverty.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: A candidate who wins 50% of the ballots will be declared winner. The result is likely to be announced by the Election Commission on Sunday.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Dissanayake belongs to the National People's Power (NPP) alliance, which includes his Marxist-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) party that has traditionally backed stronger state intervention, lower taxes and more closed market economic policies.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Nearly 75% of eligible Sri Lankan voters casted their vote in Saturday's election, reported Reuters citing the poll body's data. Higher voter turnout has come in the country after it has been dealing with one of the worst economic turmoil for last two years.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is leading the race, reported Reuters citing the early trends of vote counting on Sunday. According to the news agency, Dissanayake won about 53% of a million votes counted so far in the election, Sri Lanka's Election Commission data showed. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa was second at 22%, ahead of President Ranil Wickremesinghe in third place.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The election comes two years after an economic meltdown and a historic debt default caused widespread political unrest and the ousting of the former strongman leader. The nation’s 17 million voters went to the polls Saturday to choose a president who can steer the economy through a fragile recovery and finalize a debt-restructuring deal that will allow the IMF to disburse more funding that the country desperately needs.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Local media has reported that an island-wide curfew has been imposed with effect from 10 pm to 6 am tomorrow 22 September, under the powers vested with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka's presidential election has drawn a record 38 candidates to the ballot, yet the contest has primarily focused on three frontrunners: incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a leftist politician who gained significant support from the protesters involved in the 2022 uprisings.
However, there is no woman representation among these 38 candidates in the primarily male dominated political landscape of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka's economic crisis has significantly increased support for Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
The party, which led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s resulting in over 80,000 deaths, previously garnered less than 4 percent of the vote in the last parliamentary elections.
However, Dissanayake, 55, is now experiencing a resurgence in popularity, driven by his commitment to overhaul the island’s “corrupt" political culture.
In addition to Dissanayake's rising profile, fellow opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, 57, is also poised for a strong performance. As the son of a former president who was assassinated in 1993 during Sri Lanka's lengthy civil war, Premadasa embodies a legacy that resonates with many voters eager for change.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka's electoral system enables voters to select three preferential candidates. If no candidate secures over 50% in the initial count, a second round of counting will take place, focusing on the two leading candidates and their preferential votes. Analysts suggest that a second round is highly probable due to the tightly contested nature of this election.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: he voter turnout in the Sri Lanka presidential election on Saturday is estimated to be around 75 per cent, PTI quoted officials in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lankan media sources indicate that security at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has been enhanced to facilitate search operations. Approximately 200 personnel from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) have been stationed at the airport.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: According to a report by Daily Mirror, the first official result will be known by 11 pm according to Election Commission of Sri Lanka.
The Commissioner said it is not possible to give a time frame for the completion of second preference votes in such an eventuality.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates:The Sri Lanka Police have urged citizens to celebrate the results peacefully, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, and to support law enforcement in maintaining order throughout the country.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The government has declared September 23 (Monday) as a special government holiday.
Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Pradeep Yasaratne announced this in a statement.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: “I’ve taken this country out of bankruptcy," Al Jazeera quoted Wickremesinghe saying after casting his ballot.
“I will now deliver Sri Lanka a developed economy, developed social system and developed political system," said the 75-year-old veteran politician who has been prime minister multiple times.
“Decide if you want to go back to the period of terror, or progress." Wickremesinghe added.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Ranil Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures, imposed under the terms of a $2.9 billion IMF bailout, have left millions struggling to make ends meet.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The 10th President of Sri Lanka, right after assuming power, will have to ensure Sri Lanka sticks with the IMF programme until 2027 to get its economy on a stable growth path, reassure markets, attract investors and help a quarter of its people climb out of poverty.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: A candidate needs to secure 50 percent of votes as a first preference to secure the presidential seat in the first round.
If no candidate wins 50 percent in the first round, a second round of counting takes place between the top two candidates from the first round. Other candidates are eliminated.
No run-off vote is conducted to determine the president. Instead, the second preferences of the ballot papers for the eliminated candidates are considered. If those second preferences are for either of the top two candidates, they are transferred to their tallies.
If one of the two remaining candidates is marked as the third preference, the vote is counted for that candidate.
According to the 19th Amendment of Sri Lanka’s Constitution, passed in 2015, the president holds office for five years, and has a two-term limit.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka's electoral system enables voters to select three preferential candidates. If no candidate secures over 50% in the initial count, a second round of counting will take place, focusing on the two leading candidates and their preferential votes. Analysts suggest that a second round is highly probable due to the tightly contested nature of this election.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: In July 2022, Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected by Parliament to complete Rajapaksa's term and is now seeking another term to build on recent gains.
However, many accuse him of shielding the Rajapaksa family, whom they hold responsible for the crisis, and he was primarily elected with support from Rajapaksa loyalists in Parliament and his Cabinet.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: The economic collapse in Sri Lanka caused severe shortages of essentials like medicine, food, cooking gas, and fuel, leading to long lines and widespread riots.
Protesters stormed key buildings, including the president's house and office, ultimately forcing then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee and resign.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: According to a report by DW, the cost of living in Sri Lanka remains very high, unemployment remains very high, so people are still reeling from the economic crisis.
Therefore, a nation that has voted on the lines of religion, of race, and ethnicity, in all these years, only has 'ECONOMIC CRISIS" as their sole concern for electing the 10th President.
Notably, none of the 38 candidates in this election are women, despite Sri Lanka's historical significance in having the world’s first female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who took office in 1960.
Namal Rajapaksa, at 38, is the youngest candidate in the race and the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He is also the nephew of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and aims to bring change, although support for the Rajapaksa family has plummeted following the economic turmoil of 2022.
Previously, Namal served as the minister of youth and sports during his uncle's presidency from 2020 to 2022.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Both Premadasa and Dissanayake say they will renegotiate the IMF deal to make austerity measures more bearable. Wickremesinghe has warned that any move to alter the basics of the agreement could delay the release of a fourth tranche of nearly $3 billion that is crucial to maintaining stability.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka begins counting of votes cast in presidential election as polling ends - election body official says
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Notable turnouts include Nuwara-Eliya and Gampaha with 80% each, followed by Polonnaruwa, Kandy, and Hambantota at 78%. Monaragala, Kalutara, Ratnapura, and several others reported turnout around 75%. Meanwhile, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu recorded the lowest turnout at 68%, DailyMirror reported.
Sri Lanka's election commission term the Presidential Polls 2024 as ‘Most peaceful election ever’
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: There are 17 million eligible voters, and final results are expected Sunday.
The results will show whether Sri Lankans approve of Wickremesinghe's leadership of a fragile recovery, including restructuring Sri Lanka's debt under an International Monetary Fund program after it defaulted in 2022.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition in Sri Lanka’s parliament, founded the populist Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) after splitting from Wickremesinghe’s UNP. He is the son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa and previously ran in the 2019 presidential election, where he lost to Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Having been a long-time rival of Wickremesinghe within the UNP, Premadasa is also focused on courting the Tamil vote, a community that makes up 11 percent of the predominantly Buddhist nation. His father was assassinated in 1993 by the Tamil separatist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Premadasa has garnered support from the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK), a prominent party representing Tamils from the north and east. In the 2019 election, a significant portion of the Tamil community voted for him.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, representing the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has gained traction in popularity following the 2022 crisis. His rise is closely linked to the Aragalaya protest movement, which opposed then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, both of whom were compelled to resign.
The 55-year-old Dissanayake was actively involved in the protests and has voiced strong criticism of the $2.9 billion bailout agreement that Wickremesinghe negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), arguing that it has led to a higher cost of living for Sri Lankans.
While the JVP remains a minor party in Sri Lanka's parliament, Dissanayake's campaign is centered on a promise to eradicate corruption, a message that has resonated with many voters across the nation.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, took office as interim president in July 2022 after the removal of Rajapaksa. Although affiliated with the centre-right United National Party (UNP), the 75-year-old is running for the presidency as an independent candidate.
Wickremesinghe’s campaign slogan, “Puluwan Sri Lanka" or “Sri Lanka Can," emphasizes his role in guiding the country out of economic hardship. While key economic indicators show improvement—such as a significant drop in inflation and a growing GDP—he faces criticism for being part of the political elite linked to the 2022 crisis.
Opponents argue that Wickremesinghe’s policies, which include cuts to social welfare programs aimed at fiscal balance, have disproportionately affected the most vulnerable segments of society, forcing them to bear the burden of the nation’s recovery efforts.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Sri Lanka employs a preferential voting system that enables voters to indicate their top three choices on the ballot. To be declared the winner, a candidate must achieve over 50 percent of the votes plus one. If no candidate meets this majority, a second round of counting will take place to determine the winner.
In this scenario, the preferential votes for the top two candidates will be considered, and the candidate with the most votes will be declared the victor. Historically, all presidential elections in Sri Lanka have produced a clear winner, eliminating the need for additional counting. However, in this highly competitive three-way race, it may be challenging for any candidate to secure a majority, potentially leading to a second round of counting for the first time in the country's electoral history.
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: Economic challenges were the focal point of the eight-week campaign, with widespread public frustration stemming from the hardships experienced since the crisis peaked two years ago.
Official statistics reveal that Sri Lanka's poverty rate surged to 25 percent between 2021 and 2022, pushing an additional 2.5 million people below the threshold of $3.65 a day.
Experts caution that the nation’s economy remains precarious, with payments on its $46 billion foreign debt still on hold since the government default in 2022.
The IMF has noted that the reforms implemented by Wickremesinghe's administration are starting to yield positive results, with gradual economic growth returning.
“A lot of progress has been made," said Julie Kozack from the IMF during a press briefing in Washington last week. “However, the country is not out of the woods yet."
Sri Lanka elections result 2024 LIVE Updates: In previous elections, the competition typically involved just two closely matched candidates, resulting in a clear winner, with second or third preferences never needing to be tallied.
However, this time around, with multiple candidates vying for the position and three of them garnering substantial support, analysts suggest there’s a genuine chance that no single candidate will achieve the necessary 50 percent majority. This could extend the vote counting process beyond the usual timeframe.
Polls indicate that Dissanayake may be the frontrunner in the presidential race. The Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) shows the leftist leader leading with 48 percent support, while Sajith Premadasa follows with 25 percent, and incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe comes in third at 20 percent. Namal Rajapaksa trails significantly with just 5 percent.
Additionally, the website Numbers.Ik, which aggregates statistics about Sri Lanka, reports Dissanayake at 40 percent, with Premadasa at 29 percent and Wickremesinghe at 25 percent. These figures are based on online data collected from September 9 to September 16.
