Sri Lanka's election proceeds to a historic second round of counting
For the first time in Sri Lankan history, the presidential election has entered a second round of counting after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote. The election commission will now tally voters' second and third preferences for president, as voters were asked to rank up to three candidates.
In the first round, where only the primary choices were counted, leftist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake led with 42.31%, followed by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa with 32.76%. During a press conference, the election commission confirmed that all other candidates had been eliminated, leaving only Dissanayake and Premadasa in the race. The ballots of eliminated candidates will now be reviewed to determine if any second or third preferences were given to the two frontrunners.
Sri Lankan election law requires a candidate to secure over 50% of the vote to be declared the winner. Saturday's election was the first since mass protests in 2022 ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa amid the country's worst economic crisis.
This election has been one of the closest in Sri Lanka's history, as all eight presidential elections since 1982 had a winner after the first round of counting. Seventeen million Sri Lankans were eligible to vote, and the election commission noted it was the most peaceful poll in the country’s history. However, police imposed a curfew late Saturday night citing "public safety," which was lifted at noon local time (06:30 GMT).
Dissanayake campaigned on promises of strong anti-corruption measures and good governance, which resonated with voters seeking systemic change. Early results showed him in a strong lead, earning him congratulations from prominent figures, including the foreign minister. However, more recent numbers indicate that Premadasa is closing the gap.
Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe received 17% of the vote, placing him in third.
