Sri Lanka, suffering from the worst economic crisis, has announced new elections across the country. Which was postponed for a year due to the Corona pandemic.
According to the foreign news agency ‘AFP’, officials said that local elections will be held before February, which were postponed for a year due to the Corona epidemic.
According to the report, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who replaced his ousted predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, may face embarrassment as he is the party’s sole representative in Parliament.
According to the report, months of severe shortages of food, energy and electricity have continued since the end of 2021, leading to public anger against the Rajapaksa government, which has declared the country bankrupt due to foreign debts of $46 billion.
73-year-old Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been the Prime Minister for 6 times. Not supported.
He reversed the tax cut decision and raised the prices of almost everything, resulting in inflation reaching 70 percent.
Ranil Wickramasinghe also ordered a crackdown on anti-government protests.
In the 2018 elections, the United National Party won only 10 percent of the 340 council seats, while the SLPP won 231, the report said.
While stopping the elections, Ranil Wickramasinghe said that a bankrupt country cannot spend 10 billion Sri Lankan rupees on elections, but the Independent Election Commission decided to hold the elections.
The Election Commission had said in a brief statement that more than 8,000 council seats will be vacant between January 18 and 21, after which mandatory elections will have to be held within 28 days.
Local elections in February cannot topple the current national administration.
According to the report, Wickremesinghe will have the power to dissolve parliament after the half-term of the parliament ends on February 20, but he has not given any indication that he wants to hold early elections.
The report stated that constitutionally the presidential election cannot be held until the last quarter of 2024.
#Sri #Lanka #announced #elections #country
2024-09-07 21:11:02
Sri Lanka political situation
Table of Contents
Sri Lanka Announces New Elections Amidst Worst Economic Crisis
Sri Lanka, grappling with its worst economic crisis, has announced new elections across the country. The elections, which were initially postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to take place soon.
Presidential Election Scheduled for September 21
According to the Election Guide [[1]], Sri Lanka will hold a presidential election on September 21, 2024. This election is expected to be a crucial one, with four candidates vying for the top post [[2]]. The election comes at a time when the country is facing severe economic challenges, including food, energy, and electricity shortages, which have led to public anger against the government.
Economic Crisis Worsens
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has been ongoing since the end of 2021, with the country declaring bankruptcy due to foreign debts of $46 billion. The crisis has led to inflation reaching 70% and has had a devastating impact on the daily lives of citizens. The government, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been criticized for its handling of the crisis, including reversing tax cut decisions and raising prices of essential goods.
Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Leadership Under Scrutiny
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been the Prime Minister six times, is facing criticism for his leadership during this crisis. His party, the United National Party, performed poorly in the 2018 elections, winning only 10% of the 340 council seats. Wickremesinghe’s decision to raise prices and crack down on anti-government protests has also been widely criticized.
Local Elections to be Held Before February
In addition to the presidential election, local elections are also scheduled to take place before February, as announced by officials [[3]]. The Independent Election Commission has decided to hold the elections, despite Wickremesinghe’s initial reluctance, citing the high cost of holding elections in a bankrupt country.
Key Front-Runners in the Election
The presidential election is expected to be a closely contested one, with several key front-runners vying for the top post. A YouTube video [[3]]highlights some of the key candidates, including those from the ruling party and opposition parties.
Sri Lanka’s decision to hold new elections amidst its worst economic crisis is a significant development. The elections will be closely watched, and the outcome is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s future. As the country navigates its way through this crisis, the elections offer a glimmer of hope for a fresh start and a more stable future.
Optimized keywords: Sri Lanka elections, economic crisis, Ranil Wickremesinghe, presidential election, local elections.
Sri Lanka elections
Sri Lanka Announces New Elections Amidst Worst Economic Crisis
Sri Lanka, grappling with its worst economic crisis, has announced new elections across the country. The elections, which were initially postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are scheduled to take place soon.
Presidential Election Scheduled for September 21
According to the Election Guide [[1]], Sri Lanka will hold a presidential election on September 21, 2024. This election is expected to be a crucial one, with four candidates vying for the top post [[2]]. The election comes at a time when the country is facing severe economic challenges, including food, energy, and electricity shortages, which have led to public anger against the government.
Economic Crisis Worsens
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has been ongoing since the end of 2021, with the country declaring bankruptcy due to foreign debts of $46 billion. The crisis has led to inflation reaching 70% and has had a devastating impact on the daily lives of citizens. The government, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been criticized for its handling of the crisis, including reversing tax cut decisions and raising prices of essential goods.
Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Leadership Under Scrutiny
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been the Prime Minister six times, is facing criticism for his leadership during this crisis. His party, the United National Party, performed poorly in the 2018 elections, winning only 10% of the 340 council seats. Wickremesinghe’s decision to raise prices and crack down on anti-government protests has also been widely criticized.
Local Elections to be Held Before February
In addition to the presidential election, local elections are also scheduled to take place before February, as announced by officials [[3]]. The Independent Election Commission has decided to hold the elections, despite Wickremesinghe’s initial reluctance, citing the high cost of holding elections in a bankrupt country.
Key Front-Runners in the Election
The presidential election is expected to be a closely contested one, with several key front-runners vying for the top post. A YouTube video [[3]]highlights some of the key candidates, including those from the ruling party and