Who’s Up for President in Sri Lanka’s Turbulent Election?
On Wednesday, July 20, the Sri Lankan parliament will pick a new President, hoping to stitch together a country that’s been tangled in its worst crisis since 1948. The stakes? Pull the island out of a financial nightmare, while keeping the hunger for change simmering uphill.
Three Freaky Candidates in the Ring
- Ranil Wickremesinghe – the veteran political juggernaut who’s been prime minister six times. He’s the most familiar face, but most ordinary Sri Lankans are wary of him because they saw him as the “big brother” of the elite regime that handed out shortages like they were coupons.
- Dullas Alahapperuma – a former journalist turned lawmaker. He’s the middle child between Wickremesinghe and the protesters. He’s liked by the crowd but is missing that degree in “run a country when money is evaporating.”
- Anura Kumara Dissanayaka – the rook of the left-wing Janatha Vimukti Peramuna (JP). With only three parliamentary seats, he’s more of a cameo than a contender.
Why Wickremesinghe Still Rocks the Ring
After Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to Singapore, Wickremesinghe stepped in as acting President. Monkeying around, he took over after the protesters had scooped his official residence like a vacated hotel – the function was so chaotic that the gym and pool were used as party spots.
The protests also set his private house on fire and stormed his office. Though they didn’t manage to oust him that time, Wickremesinghe warned: the economy had been falling apart before his tenure even started.
Why the Rajapaksas Have a Rough Patch
Seven members of the Rajapaksa clan occupied key government posts, creating a “dynasty” that people blamed for the country’s economic collapse. Their policies—cutting taxes and banning chemical fertilisers—multiplied problems, harming crops, crippling debt, and exposing the fragile post‑Covid state.
Bottom Line
With fuel, food, and medicine shortages grating on everyone’s nerves and a president still in the pipeline, Sri Lankans are on tight‑rope. A Wickremesinghe win could mean more protests (think of it as a flaming candle on the cheap sandwich of national supply). A Dullas win might be a more neutral stop‑gap, while the Dissanayaka split is probably just a side‑kick in a corporate dream. Regardless, the next three days could really keep the island’s heart racing fast.
<img alt="" data-caption="Protestors shout slogans during a protest demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on July 19, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”838337ad-ce3f-492c-b0ed-8722597fdac5″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/WY6UDCZBS5O2ZKSJVV5ZMWKLKA.jpeg”/>
Who’s Really Got the Upper Hand in Sri Lanka’s Parliament?
There’s a big mystery swirling around the 225‑seat parliament: how many votes do 73‑year‑old Wickremesinghe and 63‑year‑old Alahapperuma actually hold?
Wickremesinghe is backed by a wedge of the ruling party that snagged 145 seats in the last 2020 snap elections. Alahapperuma has the other wedge of that same party plus the main opposition—those were the 54 seats we saw back then.
But the numbers are shaky right now. Some MPs have gone off‑band and declared themselves independents, so the math is in flux.
Politics 101 – What’s the Buzz?
- Former front‑runner Wickremesinghe is no longer a guaranteed star, says political scientist Jayadeva Uyangoda. “The parliament’s power balance has shifted away from him,” he notes.
- Everything hinges on the Rajapaksas who still wield influence over their own party members.
Past vs. Present – A Quick Throwback
Back in 1993, Sri Lanka’s parliament unanimously chose D.B. Wijetunga to finish the term of the assassinated President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Now we’ve got three candidates scrambling to see who will take over Rajapaksa’s seat once his term ends in 2024.
According to the parliament’s communications chief: “This will be a new chapter in our political history.”
The Voting Game Rules
- A candidate must secure over one‑third of the valid votes to win outright.
- If nobody gets that chunk, the candidate with the fewest votes is out.
- Votes then shift to the next preference, and the process repeats until someone clinches the win.
Protesters With a Clear Message
The city’s protesters are straight‑forward: “We want Wickremesinghe off the throne!” Duminda Nagamuwa, the organizer of recent Colombo rallies, hammered home the point.
He added, “If Ranil returns, we can’t see stability anywhere.”
Emergency Status and the Game Plan
Wickremesinghe’s side has declared a state of emergency—a power surge that lets him crush opposition if he feels threatened.
In a nutshell: In Sri Lanka’s latest political saga, no one is guaranteed in the ring yet. The shifting alliances and whisper‑campaigns shape the outcome. Protesters are louder than ever, demanding a shake‑up. The coming vote will finally spell it out.
