Cash-strapped Sri Lanka began voting for its next president on Saturday in an effective referendum on an unpopular International Monetary Fund austerity plan enacted after the island nation’s unprecedented financial crisis.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is fighting an uphill battle for a fresh mandate to continue belt-tightening measures that have stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.
His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn in 2022 saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor, who promptly fled the country.
“We must continue with reforms to end bankruptcy,” Wickremesinghe, 75, said at his final rally in Colombo this week.
“Decide if you want to go back to the period of terror, or progress.”