COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has failed to get the support of the largest political party in parliament for his re-election bid, posing a major challenge to his prospects in the September 21 elections.
Nearly 17 million of Sri Lanka’s 22 million population are eligible to cast a vote to determine the future of reforms in the country facing its worst financial crisis in decades.
Wickremesinghe assumed office in July 2022 as the economy of the country crumbled under a severe financial crisis triggered by a record foreign exchange reserves shortfall.
But with just one seat in parliament, he needs the backing of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which holds a majority in the parliament and counts former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother as key members.
Though the SLPP decision is a major blow to Wickremesinghe, it does not take him out of the election race entirely, as he is contesting as an independent candidate and a breakaway faction of the SLPP and other opposition parties could support him.
“The politburo decided by a significant majority that Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will present a candidate under the SLPP party symbol,” SLPP General Secretary Salaga Kariyawasam told journalists.
Wickremesinghe’s predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, was the first incumbent president to be removed from power after thousands of disgruntled protesters occupied his office and official residence forcing him to flee the country and resign later.
