COLOMBO: A previously fringe Marxist politician was on course Sunday (Sept 22) to become Sri Lanka's next leader after a presidential vote coloured by discontent over the island nation's response to an unprecedented financial crisis.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe charted a path for Sri Lanka out of its worst financial crisis in decades, but the austerity measures that were key to this recovery may hinder his bid to return to his job in Saturday's presidential election.

About 75 per cent of the eligible 17 million people in Sri Lanka cast their votes in Saturday's election..Anura Kumara Dissanayake. National People's Power. Sri Lanka elections. Sri Lanka New President.

Officials are yet to release the final voting percentage. By 2 pm, more than 60 per cent of the 17 million eligible people had voted.

In an exclusive interview to Firstpost Managing Editor Palki Sharma, President Ranil Wickremesinghe defended his tough austerity measures arguing that the necessary but painful decisions were essentia

Sri Lankans who usually vote along religious and ethnic lines will be keeping another factor in mind when they vote Saturday on a new president

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and candidate Namal Rajapaksa voted in the 2024 presidential election, crucial for the nation's future. The critical vote follows the 2022 economic crisis, with 38 candidates running,

Sri Lankans began voting Saturday in a presidential election that will determine the course of the country's recovery from its worst economic crisis and resulting political upheaval. The election, contested by 38 candidates,