Sri Lanka set to vote for new president amid economic crisis
Colombo (Sri Lanka), July 20: Day after the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who flew to Singapore via the Maldives, Sri Lanka is set to elect a new president on Wednesday amid an unprecedented economic crisis that has led to a shortage of fuel of and other essentials in the country.
Acting Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe is among the top three candidates for the Presidential post; the other two candidates are SLPP parliamentarian Dullas Alahaperuma and National People's Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa on Tuesday withdrew his candidature from the presidential election and stated that he is supporting rival candidate Dullas Alahapperuma for the top post.
Taking to Twitter, Premadasa announced that his party the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and its alliance and opposition partners will support Alahapperuma, an MP of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), who is in the fray for the upcoming presidential elections.
Premadasa further added that he is heading with this decision as he seeks the "greater good" for Lankans. "For the greater good of my country that I love and the people I cherish I hereby withdraw my candidacy for the position of President. Samagi Jana Balawegaya and our alliance and our opposition partners will work hard towards making Dullas Alahaperuma victorious," he said on Twitter.
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Dullas Alahaperuma, a senior lawmaker from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and a former journalist, who served as a Cabinet minister in the previous Rajapaksa government.
Due to a lack of basic production inputs, currency depreciation of 80% since March 2022, a lack of foreign reserves, and the nation's failure to pay its international debt obligations, Sri Lanka's economy is preparing for a dramatic downturn.
Due to a fuel shortage, hundreds of Sri Lankans continue to wait in line at gas stations every day. Additionally, many people are switching from driving cars and motorcycles to riding bicycles for daily transportation.
The worst economic crisis in Sri Lanka's history has led to a severe lack of essentials like fuel.
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-PTC News
