Sri Lanka, First Published Jul 20, 2022, 5:54 AM IST
Colombo: Amidst political uncertainty, the Sri Lankan President election will be held today. Voting is done by secret ballot. It is the first time in history that the president is elected by parliamentary voting and not by popular vote. The Tikhrona fight is taking place this time.
Apart from Renil Wickramasinghe, Sinhala Buddhist nationalist Dallas Alahaperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who broke away from the ruling SLPP and formed a new party, are also in the fray. The ruling SLPP had announced its support to Renil Wickremesinghe. The opposition is trying to avoid vote division.
The support of 113 people in the 225-member House is needed to win. Renil Wickramasinghe has a shortfall of 13 votes and Dallas Alahaperumma has a shortfall of 25 votes. Dallas Alahaperuma claims that 45 members of the SLPP will stand with him. The main opposition SJB had withdrawn its candidate Sajith Pramedasa to support Dallas Alahaperuma. If the opposition votes are secured and the ruling party loses votes, Alahaperuma’s chances of winning will increase.
But Wickramasinghe’s calculation is that the opposition Tamil Progressive Alliance Party will support him. Security has been increased in front of the Parliament in view of the possibility of conflict. The protestors burnt the effigy of the Acting President in front of the President’s Office stating that Renil Wickramasinghe will not be accepted.
Candidates
Renil Wickramasinghe
Age 73. Current Acting President. Former Prime Minister Former Finance Minister, Former Defense Minister, Former IT Minister. Twice Leader of the Opposition. A confidant of Gotabaya Rajapaksa
Current support:
SLPP:100
UNP: 01
Minimum to win: 12 votes
Dallas Alumni
Opposition candidate Age 63. Former Journalist. Former Minister of Media, Former Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Former Minister of Energy, Sports and Welfare.
Current support:
SJB: 54
Tamil National Alliance:10
National Proples Power:3
Others: 8
45 members of the SLPP claim to be present
Anura Kumara Dissanayake
JVP. Age 53. Former Agriculture and Water Resources Minister. Former NPP leader. 2019 presidential candidate
Anura Kumara’s more votes will favor Renil Wickramasinghe
Last Updated Jul 20, 2022, 5:54 AM IST